How can design be used as an instrument of economic politics? – this issue was discussed in a richly fruitful international panel discussion including the international glass art center of Meisenthal, the Cité du Design Saint-Étienne and the Wiener Silber Manufactur. For example, for fifteen years design has been deployed in many regions of France in order to revive traditional industrial sectors and upgrade entire regions. Designers are brought into contact with industry and crafts businesses in order to preserve ancient and traditional knowledge and rescue means of production.