Programme Details

The inventor-engineer James Dyson's resignation as the chairman of the Design Museum has opened up the debate - just what is British design in the 21stc century?

Can Constance Spry with her ornate flower arrangements be seen as a designer? Where does design end, and lifestyle begin? Or should there be no separation?

Sir Christopher Frayling, Head of the Royal College of Art which breeds the young designers of the future, joins the design historian Fiona MacCarthy, the eminent international designer, Kenneth Grange who counts the 125 train, the Kenwood chef, the parker pen as but a few of his inventions, and that new breed of designer accessory - the design strategist Kevin McCullagh - debate design today: limitless possibilities for fun?

Or should we go back to Bauhaus, the Arts and Crafts Movement and think of design as having purely social purpose?

Join Phillip Dodd and his guests to see where you stand on design on Night Waves - Undercurrents at 9.30 Wednesday October 6th 30th, here on BBC Radio 3.