Andrea Balestrero (A12 group of architects)

When one goes round contemporary art exhibitions there may be objects with all the shape and materials of designer objects and all that distinguishes them from design is the size of the run. Design is intended for production, if not en masse then at least in some quantity, and it's supposed to serve a purpose. The art work stands aloof from any context and focuses on the aesthetic side of the object. It must be said, though, that designers often aspire to purity of form. There's continual overspill between the disciplines.

For about a decade design has been trying to bring back craftsmanship, which ties up with introjecting popular or local culture. Often as we go round design exhibitions we find hand-crafted objects and wonder if it makes any sense to imagine them manufactured on a large scale. It's hard to define the role of design in present-day culture. Everyone has their own relation to the objects around them. Look or practicality are personal factors and tied to the contexts the objects get placed in.