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Design is one of the most powerful forces in our lives. None of us can avoid its influence. It's a ubiquitous element of our world that determines how we feel, what we do and whether we succeed or fail. In this new four-part series, the architectural writer Shumi Bose explores its power to affect us, for better and worse.

In each episode of 'The Design Dimension' Shumi charts a different aspect of our relationship to design - desire, damage, choice and, finally, truth.

This week, Shumi examines how we express our identity through design - from the mark we leave on our cities through to the indelible designs we place on our bodies. We hear stories of the tattoo designs of Russian gang members, the memory aids which are being used to help preserve the identity of dementia sufferers and Shumi's own experiences in the the city where she grew up - Calcutta.

Produced by Alan Hall and Hana Walker-Brown
A Falling Tree production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4.