Design in other countries

I was presenting to a prospect with Paul Hitchins of Verve this week. The prospect worked with German customers and out of the blue one of the directors asked what we saw as the differences between German and British design. 

I could see the sale dissapearing before my eyes, but Paul with a some aplomb,  launched into a presentation on the subject as if he had been preparing all week. 

I wish I could do that.

Thinking about this later, I have to say I don’t see the same difference between say German and British design as against European and American design.  Over the pond the imagery sometimes seems to me a little cruder, the fonts a little bigger, the colours a little moire garish.  Is this my imagination? 

Looking for a reason I think it might be down to US Television standards.  They have fewer pixles to work with and the colour definition varies from just about acceptable to downright awful.  TV is so pervasive that the design constraints of the medium have maybe filtered through into all graphic design.

As the US switches to digital TV will US design start to look more European?  Or is it all in my mind?

Bob
Textor