The desk is a place of work and of action, but it also serves as a place to exhibit personal things and preferences. Thus it always characterizes in two ways a material and symbolic unity. The desk is not only very informative in itself, but also must always be studied and understood in the context of its cultural, gender-specific, and field-related surroundings. The focus of this study is a comparative analysis of the use of desks. Desks in insurance companies, banks, administrative authorities, call centers, and design studios in twelve countries on all continents were studied. This publication presents the results in the form of extensive visual material, empirical analyses, and critical essays. The study was carried out by the Koeln International School of Design (KISD) in collaboration with universities in Hong Kong; New York; Seoul; Taipei; Curitiba, Brazil; Pune, India; Auckland; Milan; and Fukuoka, Japan.

A talented artist since childhood, Karim's sketches are bursting with vitality and optimism. His drawings all exhibit a visual consistency and confidence of line that is impressive in its visual form and its communicative power. In his global design practice, Karim's sketches are the conceptual reference point for all project development work. Karim's award-winning designs include objects such as the ubiquitous Garbo waste can and Oh Chair for Umbra, and interiors such as the Morimoto restaurant in Philadelphia and the Prizeotel in Bremen. Karim has collaborated with clients to create designs for Method and Dirt Devil, furniture for Artemide and Magis, brand identities for Citibank and Hyundai, high-tech products for LaCie and Samsung, and luxury goods for Veuve Clicquot and Swarovski - all of which are featured in this book.

The Phaidon Atlas of 21st Century World Architecture is a comprehensive portrayal of the finest built architecture from around the world completed since the year 2000. Divided into six world regions, the "Phaidon Atlas of 21st Century World Architecture" provides an important overview of global and local trends in architecture for a wide range of users. The geographical contexts for 21st century architectural production are explored in a global framework presented in accessible graphic formats. Each of the six world regions is introduced by an in-depth look at urban and architectural issues. This statistical data has been researched and analysed by a team from the London School of Economics.More than 1000 key buildings have been chosen through a rigorous selection process involving a panel of expert advisors and specialists from every region. Each building is fully illustrated with drawings and photographs, and described by a short essay. Further information includes key data such as construction cost, client name, area of the building and geographical coordinates. Cross-referencing between projects enables the user to find other buildings by the same architect included in the book. In addition, a mass of useful information is provided. This includes details of architects' practices and extensive indexes.