Programming the Design Culture Salons, now entering their third series, is undoubtedly my favourite job here at the V&A Museum. It allows me to reflect upon some of the hot topics that are emerging in contemporary design and I spend a lot of time tracing these through conversations inside and outside the museum, with fellow researchers and in the news and media. It also allows me to think about where design issues intersect with social debates and issues in politics and wider society. This is the research space which is most exciting to me.
Some of the questions posed in the new programme (now available for booking here) emerged from a conscious effort to address the issues that emerged from the last series. For instance, in the last salon on gender, the themes of age and migration both figured heavily in salon conversations and will now be addressed head on in the next series.
But the new programme has also thrown up some recurring phrases and concepts I didn’t intentionally plan. For instance, it was only when finalising the programme that I realised that the theme of ‘cycles’ and movement permeates every salon on the new programme- starting with the first on cycling and citizenship, through fashion cycles, mobility, innovation and age in design culture. Perhaps this should not be so surprising, given the centrality the concept of movement and change in the study of design culture. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how the salon conversations respond to this theme.
Regular Salon fans will note a few changes to the next series, including a new venue and a new time, all of which we hope will give them a new energy. I’ll also be disseminating the salon discussions a little wider than before, including on this blog- so stay tuned for my reflections on the first of the third series on 10 October on cycling . Or, better still- come along and join the conversation. Booking is free and available here.
