Russell Kennedy: You are currently working on a book, which is believed to be the definitive book on the history of design. What is the book called and how does it differ form others on the subject?

Victor Margolin: The book is titled 'World History of Design' and it is truly a world history with significant attention devoted to all parts of the world. I write a lot about Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Near and Middle East, and the Commonwealth countries. The history of design in these regions has not been well covered in larger histories although books and articles on individual countries do exist in various languages. My intention is to explain how product and graphic design have developed in all parts of the world from the beginning of culture until today. Such a history is necessary because design is not practised internationally and everyone needs to find their own precedents in a widely conceived historical narrative. Although my book will be the first to cover design on a world scale, others will surely follow.

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