v. de·signed, de·sign·ing, de·signs
v. tr.
-
- To conceive or fashion in the mind; invent: design a good excuse for not attending the conference.
- To formulate a plan for; devise: designed a marketing strategy for the new product.
- To plan out in systematic, usually graphic form: design a building; design a computer program.
- To create or contrive for a particular purpose or effect: a game designed to appeal to all ages.
- To have as a goal or purpose; intend.
- To create or execute in an artistic or highly skilled manner
I just checked out the programs of Era 05 and Index:05. Wauvv! My deep down anthropological heart is beating faster.
Why?
Because I started my carrier in anthropology wanting to go out and save the world. That is still my ambition although I realised some years ago that being a full time member of the development business wasn’t going to either save the world or satisfy my personal ambitions. So I turned to another area where I could develop my own potentials while still making a difference to the better. That is partly why I am now studying innovation, which in my terms is the act of creating and implementing new or just better stuff that adds value to something or someone.
Therefore it makes me truly happy to see the directions in the field of design and innovation focusing on user centered design and design to improve life - also for the ones that aren’t represented in the regular consumer catalogue. The pact of these two issues is very powerful because it implies that we not only create and implement new products, but that we are able to design concepts that adress important needs in the world within a broad range of fields.
To its far extreme the concept of design implies that we can give form to the world the way we like. We can shape intelligent products, political systems, social processes, personal life styles, future strategies… you just choose yourself. Of course it is not that easy. There are a number of political, social, economical and human factors that challenge the utopia of designing the perfect world. However, I like the almost existentialistic freedom of choice that is opened by the concept of design. There is always a choice in designing one way or the other. Therefore I believe that it is very important that we acknowledge the responsibility inherent in being conscious creators of the here and there, the now and the future.
This is the consciousness that I see in the agendas of Era 05 and Index:05 and that is why it warms my still idealistic heart.