Not just the Brits lah. How about Italian, Spanish, Swedes, French, Japanese. It just so happens that a Brit designed an iconic phone which became popular because Jobs chose to meld all the functions together seemlessly. And given Job's prickly pursuit of perfection, who knows how many percent of the final product is from the original designer vs Jobs himself.
I have seen a great many coffee pots, shavers, lamps, furniture that are testament to great design. How about the Italians - the Ferraris or even the old Fiat Cinquecento or good old Angello himself. For Japs how about the much copied Noguchi coffee table. Aiyah too many to list.
It is all about economic progress. When you are a 3rd world nation with war, hunger and strife, people care less about design. When Japs became first world nation in the 80s we saw a whole generation of Jap designers - from architects to fashion. China will have its turn on the industrial design stage; with its own intepretation.
Many forget that in the 60s and 70s Japanese companies were basically knocking off Western products. I remember the progress - wah, made in Japan not good to made in Taiwan no good to now China.
Who knows, tradtional Chinese Courtyard houses might become popular in the US in the next 20 years. Just like how Ellison built himself a Japanese Castle.
