Geek Day Out: California Design

Explore the past, present and future of California’s iconic counterculture– and Silicon Valley– at London’s Design Museum.

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What does California’s historical counterculture have to do with Silicon Valley’s technological dominance? Even after touring the Design Museum’s exhibition considering that idea, we’re not entirely convinced there is a link – but there’s plenty of incredible hardware and tech ephemera from all decades on show to keep any computer fan distracted.

The exhibition traces a line from the hippies of San Francisco to the iPhone, with classic hardware on display alongside LSD tablets, Barbie dolls and skateboards, suggesting all have the idea of individual freedom at their core. That argument is easier made with the original Silicon Valley firms – where founders quit jobs to make ideas real in their garages – but tougher for digital companies designed to hoover up our data.