How did California come to have such a powerful influence on contemporary design? California: Designing Freedom explores how the ideals of the 1960s counterculture morphed into the tech culture of Silicon Valley, and how ‘Designed in California’ became a global phenomenon.
The central premise is that California has pioneered tools of personal liberation, from LSD to surfboards and iPhones. This ambitious survey brings together political posters and portable devices, but also looks beyond hardware to explore how user interface designers in the San Francisco Bay Area are shaping some of our most common daily experiences. By turns empowering, addictive and troubling, Californian products have affected our lives to such an extent that in some ways we are all now Californians.
"With some 300 items on display, there are plenty of unusual artefacts to relish" - The Times ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A slice of California cool" "This show gets a thumbs up from us" - The Londonist ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A hugely ambitious celebration of the world’s design capital...a must-see" - City AM ⭐⭐⭐⭐
California: Designing FreedomDesign Museum Main address:
Design MuseumWells Fargo Center28 Shad ThamesSE1 2YDLondon, Design MuseumWells Fargo Center28 Shad ThamesSE1 2YDLondon, How did California come to have such a powerful influence on contemporary design? California: Designing Freedom explores how the ideals of the 1960s counterculture morphed into the tech culture of Silicon Valley, and how ‘Designed in California’ became a global phenomenon.
The central premise is that California has pioneered tools of personal liberation, from LSD to surfboards and iPhones. This ambitious survey brings together political posters and portable devices, but also looks beyond hardware to explore how user interface designers in the San Francisco Bay Area are shaping some of our most common daily experiences. By turns empowering, addictive and troubling, Californian products have affected our lives to such an extent that in some ways we are all now Californians.
"With some 300 items on display, there are plenty of unusual artefacts to relish" - The Times ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A slice of California cool" "This show gets a thumbs up from us" - The Londonist ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A hugely ambitious celebration of the world’s design capital...a must-see" - City AM ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Book tickets
