Above: The panelists at Design Debate Doha

On 3 March 2009, the much anticipated Design Debate Doha saw a packed atrium debate on the topic "This house believes 'Globalisation harmfully subverts culturally unique sensibilities.'"

Panelists for the motion included writer and design critic from the UK, Rick Poynor; Dr. Sami Angawi, Founder and General Director of the AMAR Center in Saudi Arabia; and Australian educator and designer, Russell Kennedy.

Panelists against the motion included Qatari architect, Ibrahim Jaidah; Roger Mandle from the Netherlands, Head of the Qatar Museums Authority; and Petra Blaisse, founder of design studio Inside Outside.

Both sides put forward very strong arguments for their case and the audience asked questions which were just as passionate.

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