The 1990s were bursting with hope and possibility. The 80s saw a stunning increase in the use of consumer electronics, paving the way for the surging of Information Age. Computers were suddenly everywhere and cell phone usage exploded.

The world wide web was made available to the public in 1992 and the world as we knew it was dramatically altered. This was a revolutionary decade in terms of digital technology.

The phenomenon of Globalism truly emerged at this time. Information was transferred more easily and the local boundaries of culture became increasingly blurred.  This controversial reality was reflected in the style of the times; a clean, polished, more universal look was embraced by designers and consumers alike. This was in some ways a reaction against the more decorative, over the top style that defined much of the 1980s. And with new technologies, 'good simple design' became available at affordable prices for the masses.

In Canada, there was resurgence of design during this decade. In the early 90s, Canada found itself in a recession that affected much of the Western world. But, as the decade progressed, North America experienced economic expansion. The introduction of the North American Free Trade agreement meant that Canadian industry had to learn to compete. And in the world furniture this meant a stronger focus on design itself. Large design firms were investing in product research and development and many sophisticated and exciting products surfaced.

Design by Decade revisits the 1990s to examine some of the most distinctive and cutting edge Canadian designs that represent this revolutionary era.

Program includes three segments:

• Douglas Ball - Workspace Design (00:55-7:46)
• Karim Rashid - A Global Approach to Design (7:56-16:46)
• Sophisticated Canadian Design (16:57-23:49)