Early Signs Of The Demise Of Western Design?

Yesterday, PSFK posted an article on how UK design companies are trying to use Chinese design talent, and today we read news that Finland’s Nokia is looking to use designers from Bangalore. Nokia have announced that a two year partnership with the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology in Bangalore, it will give Nokia designers and India’s talented young designers the opportunity to work together on new design ideas for India and the global markets. In a press release, Alastair Curtis, Nokia’s Chief Designer, is quoted as saying:

“India is a dynamic and inspiring place for designers with its diverse mix of cultures, traditions and color. The new satellite studio will help us further develop our understanding of this vibrant country and to work more closely with its extremely talented designers. Reflecting India’s status as one of the hottest countries for design right now I expect our work here to influence not only our thinking on new design trends and ideas for India, but also for many other markets around the world.”

These moves are interesting because there’s a common perception that the way the future of industry will be played out is that the developed world will come up with all the ideas using their creative industries while the developing world will make the stuff gets dreams up. But that might not happen. Both pieces of news reflect creative evolutions in areas that can draw upon a lot of rich cultural references that don’t appear in the West. What happens when places like Southern Asia can dream and create thinks better than the US?

Nokia’s Press Release