from Fast Company

I realized that it is unlikely that China will become a global design superpower given that most Chinese designers do not have an intimate understanding of the western consumer, their way of life and the cultural context that a western designer understands, because he/she have had a lifetime of exposure to the context in which their designs are going to be used. Great Designs are the result of an intimate understanding of the context.  Without a clear understanding of the market, the user and the social drivers, a designer relies on guesswork and luck in order to produce a meaningful and lasting design.

For this same reason Chinese designers are the best suited to design for the Chinese market.  Although some western-designed products (mostly with a strong brand behind them) break into china they seldom take on mainstream and the Chinese version of the product is quick to follow with a much greater reach.