Sarah Teasley is Reader in Design History and Theory at the Royal College of Art. Her research takes historical case studies from design, architecture and industry in modern and contemporary Japan to consider broader political, social and economic issues. She is particularly interested in the impact of technical mediation and policy on industrial practice, and in design and material culture as a perspective into political economy both within history and for policy-making today. Her publications include Global Design History (Routledge, 2011) and 20th Century Design History (Petit Grand Publishing, 2005) as well as book chapters and journal articles. In 2012, she was the recipient of an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Early Career Fellowship; she is also the recipient of grants from the British Academy, th e Design History Society and the Association of Asian Studies.