Design and Nationalism in China

Abstract

This PhD research investigates the role that design is playing in Chinese nationalism through three deep-dive case studies: China’s national design policy, Huawei smartphones and design awards in China. It argues that while the Chinese government and consumers are chasing the same nationalist goal, they focus on different facets of design: the strategic role of design in realising the government’s nationalist agenda of industrial transformation, and the symbolic role of designed objects in consumers’ nationalist sentiments. This research contributes to the literature of design and nationalism by highlighting the multifaceted and evolving role of design in Chinese nationalism.