I gladly borrowed the title of this number from the in Laura Traldi’s interview of Deyan Sudjic during the opening exhibition of the new Design Museum London this past November. Deyan believes in the need to take risks, “at least a little when it comes to design, not to follow trends, but to challenge what design is and what impact it can have on the quality of daily life”. Because of its pertinence, design can make us feel uncomfortable, as Le Corbusier brashly pointed out when visiting the Villa Savoye, considered one of the architect’s best works. Le Corbusier advised the villa’s owners to keep furnishing to a minimum, and was outraged when madame Savoye suggested an armchair and two sofas for the living room. Corbusier protested; “Today, our daily lives are paralyzed by the deplorable idea that we need furnishing”. This concept should be eradicated and replaced with that of equipment (Alain de Botton, “The Architecture of Happiness”). John Ruskin suggested that it soothing to think that, “we seek two things from our buildings. We want them to shelter us. And we want them to speak to us—to speak of whatever we find important and need to be reminded of”. We are offering you a selection of design series and artistic projects in this number, leaving you to judge whether they are to be adored or abhorred.