The McMansion is one of the most universally recognized symbols of American excess. However, far from being a solely American phenomenon, the McMansion has since been replicated all over the world, from the UK to Oman, Serbia to China. But what really is a McMansion and how did these bad manors come about in the first place? After eight years of studying the phenomenon through the blog McMansion Hell, the architecture critic Kate Wagner is ready to present her findings.

For more information on KC Design Week and to register visit www.kcdesignweek.org.