Design objects as elements of contemporary everyday culture

This article examines the role and place of design objects in the context of contemporary everyday culture from the early 2000s to the present day. The author gives some basic characteristics of everyday culture and analyses the role of the thing in everyday culture and popular (mass) culture. The text looks at current phenomena in design closely related to everyday culture: the authenticity of objects; the actual demand for design in different countries; quasi-design and styling as an effect of marketing and fashion; virtual and «no-thing» design; and the latest design technologies that are just entering our everyday lives.