The difficult economic conditions and uncertainties of the last few years: 9-11, the dot-com bust, corporate scandals, the Seattle WTO protests, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have radically changed the political, social and business climate in this country. Politically the country seems to have shifted even further to the right. In business this uncertainty has made corporations much more cautious, this is reflected in their investments, marketing campaigns and level of experimentation.

At the same time, contradicting the trend towards conservatism, the new millennium has brought a renewed interest in design. Apple is back in business. People are entering college design programs in record numbers. Architects who break the rules and promote new ideas, people like Thom Mayne, Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas and Frank Gehry, are being given large institutional projects. The schism between the growing trend towards conservatism and the superstar status of a few exuberant designers is hard to reconcile. What is allowing these seemingly opposing trends to co-exist? How can small firms interested in innovation, but not part of the elite design world, position themselves?

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