NextD Journal I ReReThinking Design Special Issue, April 2007
Stefan Holmlid |
Beautiful Diversion
Linköping University, Sweden
B (Bruce): “So one Big Design Management Challenge is how do you switch gears fromdesigning for to designing with?” S (Stefan): Even though it is a question, it is comforting that Bruce believes that weare still the drivers of the conversation. Or is it not? I wonder, what would it be like if someone else was the driver of the conversation and designers were allowed to participate. There would be User Thinking, Consumer Methodology and a Conversation Piece as the primary tool to involve the designer. That would be wonderful! One step away from the traditional model is, e.g., Bosieboo, where parents’ ideas for products get produced and sold to other parents. (http://www.bosieboo.com/page/home&setlocn=restofworld&setlang=en) B: “Designers suck because they are also IGNORANT, especially about sustainability.” S: Actually any focus is a sign of ignorance. Such as going green when you wanted sustainability. The S word has, as has design, innovation, and a bunch of other words that aspire for driving the development, been idealized as a single focus. Sustainability is more than green, it is social sustainability, economic sustainability, environmental sustainability. At least. So, one could easily focus on Fair Made as well as Fair Trade. One example of this is the Haute Couture exhibition Fair Made that focus partly on the eco aspects partly on social aspects of sustainability. (http://davidreport.com/blog/200702/fair-made-exhibition/), or get down to Ekovaruhuset in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. B: “Because your design thing is a glorious thing that has the potential of changing our lives in a myriad of ways in a myriad of places.” S: Did you see Dan Saffer’s comment on Design Thinking vs Design Doing? (http://www.core77.com/blog/education/design_schools_please_start_teaching_d esign_again_5799.asp) B: “Are Designers The Enemy Of Design?” S: I remember the 80’s when it was thought that synthesizers and samplers and MIDI would turn whatever we thought was music on its head. In one way it did of course, just think of Depeche Mode, Yazoo, and the like. But it still was music and not anyone could become a superstar. The hinge was actually the means for production and distribution. There are always a set of means for institutionalization that is feeding business as usual, which all will be challenged in due time. For now, I would say that designers have not yet become the enemy of design.
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