China Design Now

China Desgin Now comes to the Victoria and Albert Museum as part of the China in London season which celebrates Chinese arts and culture across the city. Looking at three different cities in China and their influences and history of design, the exhibition is a fantastic exploration of the Western concept of Made in China.

China's own design styles are barely recognised outside of the country itself, and having abandoned its prescriptive socialist past, many designers and artists are rediscovering the artistic and creative traditions of China and redeveloping them in new and exciting ways.China Design Now explores this new and vibrant design style and celebrates the acheivements of China's cultural rebirth.

Shenzen is one of the three cities in focus in the China Design Now exhibition as it is one of the youngest and newest of all China's cities. With an average age of 27 and a population of 10 million, Shenzen is also the world's largest manufacturing zone. Full of design students and professional graphics designers, this is the place where graphic design and new technology is being embraced.

Having been at the forefront of modern technology and design in the twenties, Shanghai underwent many changes with the communist revolution and its subsequent redevelopment in the 1990s. Now it is a city where trendsetters and designers are constructing a shiny new future, and China Design Now looks at the fine balance between commercialism and creativity that the city residents are attempting to achieve.

As the 2008 Bejing Olympics loom ever closer, China Design Now ends its exhibition with a look at the futuristic city. With the Imperial Palace calling Bejing home since 1420 and being the political and cultural centre of China, the city always seems to be on the cutting edge of design and technology. Modern designers are part of the fast track of urban regeneration with commercial housing, sustainable city design and cultural infrastructure key parts of their work.

Exploring the hopes and dreams of China over the last two decades, China Design Now is a chance to get under the skin of the people that are now responsible for that ever present label, Made in China.

The exhibition runs at the Victoria and Albert Museum until the 13th July as part of China in London. For more information on other events as part of this series, click on the link below.

China in London

If you would like to book advance tickets for China Design Now, phone 0870 906 3883 for more information.

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