[Editorial]

This special edition of the Design Management Journal contains a selection of papers drawn from the D2B First International Design Management Symposium, held in Shanghai in 2006, in which the future role of design management theory and practice were considered from a variety of perspectives based on design to business. The special edition was conceived to pick up on a significant issue drawn from the D2B symposium—namely, the cross-cultural significance of design management beyond national boundaries. Our main aim in this journal was to further explore the East/West differences, perspectives, and complexities of design management within the needs of the East/West business community, and to reflect on varied viewpoints, discussions, approaches, and shared experience.