as the world gets smaller and global communication becomes even faster designers are becoming increasingly mobile and migratory importexport is an exhibition that celebrates the diversity and dynamism of uk design highlighting the importance of cultural transfusion and diffusion in powering britain as a creative hub covering a wide range of disciplines from furniture furnishings and product design to jewellery fashion and graphics the exhibition focuses on fourteen individual designers and design practices excerpts from an interview with curator lesley jacksonwhat is importexport all about the purpose of this exhibition is to display the creative talent of artists from around the world who have had some training in britain by attracting creative people and generating new ideas we are witnessing a phenomenal change in the character of design these artists have absorbed the intricacies of design from different countries importexport is an effort to explore how the experience of working in britain has influenced the approach of all participating designersdoes the emergence of this hybrid design product signify the death of traditional british design though not dying id say the industry is struggling we need to rethink our design strategies we need to move forward it would be foolish to alienate the audience from global design we must find a way to take the people with uswhat can one look forward to seeing at the exhibition importexport presents 14 diverse case studies on a wide range of subjects it is bursting with ideas and also lends itself to individuality there is an immense amount of creativity that is being showcased what was the criteria for picking the 14 designers all the artists are outstanding representatives of their respective fields i have kept in mind the originality of ideas which is why the exhibition does not include only established names but also virtual freshers in the industry the fourteen artists present an interesting cultural mix and i believe they are just the tip of the iceberg in the world of design professionalsare any indianborn designers exhibiting yes ceramist lubna chowdhary was born to indian parents though raised in uk she grew up in a closeknit asian muslim community a masters from the royal college of art won her a scholarship to india and the experience has enriched her both as an individual as well as an artist