Sacred objects - Australian design and national celebrations

Whenever there is a national event or celebration in Australia, favourite sporting heroes (including racehorses), celebrated artists and the nation's ‘design icons’ are rolled out in the popular media to confirm a very specific view of Australian ‘white male’ national identity. Three very different types of writings about Australian industrial design are contrasted and two questions are explored: Is there a national design sensibility? Should there be an attempt to create a national canon of design?