Barack Obama's Oval Office bookshelves

One of Barack Obama's first tasks as president will be to redecorate the Oval Office. The Guardian asked some top designers and architects to tackle the job. Bookcases have been added to either side of the fireplace to communicate the idea that this is a literate presidency. All the furniture, including the previous president's desk, has been replaced by a large round table, suggesting that the participants in meetings and discussions are equal. The globe of the world can be used as a learning aid for any official unsure of the difference between a continent and a country.