Theunique position of design in the political context of postwar BelgiumIn the postwar era,design became important as a marker of modernity and progress at world fairsand international exhibitions and in the global markets. The Belgian state tooka special interest in this vanguard phenomenon of 'industrial design' as a vitalpolitical and economic strategic tool in the context of the Cold War and thecreation of the European community. This book describes the unique position thatdesign occupied in the political context of postwar Belgium as it analyses thepublic promotion of design between 1950 and 1986. It traces this process, fromthe first government-backed manifestations and institutions in the 1950s throughthe 1960s and 1970s, until design lost its privileged position as astate-backed institution, a process which culminated in the closure of theBrussels Design Centre in 1986, in the midst of the Belgian federalisation process.A key figure in this history is the policymaker Josine des Cressonnières, whoplayed a leading role in the national and international design community and succeededin connecting very different political worlds through the medium of design.