Geert Hofstede's Relation Between Globalization And Design

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Introduction
Globalisation defined simply, is the process of international integration derived from the exchange of culture that is fuelled by the movement of investment funds and businesses beyond domestic and national markets (Investopedia, 2003). The relation between globalisation and design lies with the cultural exchange that occurs within the process of cohesion.

According to Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions, every country can be measured in terms of high individualism/collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity/femininity or short/long term orientation (Hofstede, 2015). Evidently, one can infer that every country has a uniquely different culture and, as a result, have different definitions of what good design should resemble.

Which brings us to the question at hand, is it necessary for design that is deeply rooted in traditional crafts to adapt themselves to fit global trends? Design is a Reflection of Culture
Undeniably, cultural aspects of society have always largely influenced design. It is evident when we examine the various art movements in history, such as Modernism - the broad movement that began in the 1850s that was a calculated dismissal of prior Western arts and literature styles (Tate.org.uk, 2015), or even the artificial pomposity that is the Victorian era (History.ac.uk, 2001). The deeply rooted influence that culture has on design is undeniable; it can be observed that design is a reflection of the culture, or the way of

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