Will Hard Times Lead to Better Design?

Speaking of hard times, but this time about the design industry for a change, Michael Cannel has an interesting piece for the NY Times entitled “Design Loves a Depression.” Cannel believes that, if history is any judge, that great design and innovation flourishes when there are fewer means out there among the masses. Which makes perfect sense when you think of inventions made by clever prisoners in jail or the early career of Charles and Ray Eames.