Swimmer out of water
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Design Everywhere
by Jonathan Casciani
Why is design not a bigger issue in the public conscience?
I find it strange that design is not a bigger public issue. To consider the role of design in society is to consider almost everything. Everything man made is designed so therefore design is everywhere. Design is the difference between something working and something failing. Its the different between something being difficult to use and it being easy. It’s the difference between a carbuncle and something that people will want to keep forever.
We’ve established the bigger picture, so back to the question. In political terms there are always going to be some big guns that will overshadow designs’ public profile. Economics, law and order and health are up there and currently the environment is a complete necessity. However, what makes design interesting is that like economics it’s connected to all of the issues. Good design can assist the economy, improve health provision and it will play a pivotal role in our environmental future. Although there are many answers to the question there is one thing that the design community can do to raise the profile of design. Get people involved so they understand its value.
Although the public have an inherent understanding of design it’s usually through engaging with the end product such as a new building, a brand, a designed piece of information or a product. To raise the profile of design we need to engage people in the process. Good design is about vision, but most importantly vision rooted in an understanding of need. My experience of working with businesses of all shapes and sizes is that a collaborative approach produces results that have real effects.
We need to find ways of engaging the public. Not just for specific design tasks such as the redesign of a public space, but in a way that activity demonstrates the cultural value of design and its relevance to everyone.
Why don’t we have a national design festival?
Posted in Design | Jonathan Casciani | October 1st 2007 Comments so far (2)
Agree? Disagree? Have an opinion? Join the debate and let us know below.
I don't think we are a mediocre country in any way, I just think we have developed some pretty unwieldy bureacratic structures that do very little to encourage parents and their children to value their own eyes! People are scared to imagine what's wrong in a constructive way and to have the confidence to contribute to the 'canon' of whatever discipline they're interested in. Say, for example, you look around Nottingham city centre, any day and you wanted to change it, to brighten it up, to give it a real sense of connection and connectedness that was visual. Look at all the businesses and the way they currently present their shop fronts. What unites most of them (outside the Hockley/Broad Street part of Nottingham with really interesting shop fronts) is that the overwhelming majority of them are corporately boring! Yet every one of those shops has a story, a history. Imagine taking one shop, one business and using all your creativity to design a shop sign that looks as if someone has made a real effort, then taking that to the sign making company. Care shows, makes a difference to the way people see not only the shop but the experience of being in the city. Imagine then talking to the graphic design departments of local universities and showing them the first sign and then inspiring them to choose a business and redesign their sign. Imagine how amazing Nottingham city centre could look when every single business has a bit more targetted care and attention. Because I think the whole issue is about care, care to look, to see connections, to include everyone but to recognise that creativity, originality comes from caring enough to help people have higher expectations and the confidence to imagine how the process might begin...
posted by Paula Sharratt on November 1st 2007 at 12:18 AM
As the parent of a creative 11 yr old girl I have been disappointed in the D esign and Technology teaching at her school. Common object decoration seems a more apt label. Can't we have this discussion with young teenagers? Maybe then we'll stop being a mediocre country with totally functionalist ideas.
posted by fiona boyd on October 9th 2007 at 10:50 AM