Introduction: The new design nexus

Imagine a world in which water is more expensive than oil, one with robotic construction sites, information communication technology based upon thought alone, human life expectancy of 150 years and yet very few children. The year is 2050. Imagine a world in which only the wealthy have access to water, for some life expectancy is 30 years, the majority are illiterate, and children die every day. The year is 2006. Imagine how, as designers, we must accommodate and enrich the user experience today while acquiring the skills to deal with tomorrow's needs. The 'New Design Nexus' is a phrase coined by Lyndon Anderson in a paper given to the Graphic Design Teacher's Association, University of Melbourne, in 1998. In this he sought to describe the nexus between three phenomena: the rise of ICT and digital design technologies, changing demographics in the Western world and the rise of sustainability as a global issue. As practising designers, as educators, and as researchers and commentators on design, it seemed to us that these concerns should be the responsibility of designers in all fields. We therefore thank Associate Professor Di Fleming, Director of lab.3000, for understanding the necessity to further expand upon lab.3000 themes by fully embracing one of the greatest social revolutions of the 21 st century; namely an ageing population