Design with a capital D.

This is a screen-shot from Paula Antonelli’s talk at Eyeo, credits to Tony Dunne Anthony is professor and head of the Design Interactions programme at the Royal College of Art in London. Tony uses this A-B slide in his classes all the time.  On the A side we have the old-school type of design and on the B side the new kind of design.

Design is evolving wonderfully from Problem solving to Problem finding which is very important. From Design for how the world is to Design for how the world could be. From Consumer oriented design to Citizen oriented design. From Science fiction design to Social fiction design. From Applications to Implications.

Designers have always been taken either for granted or mistreated, but as Paola says it, our time has finally come! We have seen in the past decade an important shift in most industries. The most successful businesses are the ones who have put Design in the forefront of their process and their customer in the center. Design is at the center of innovation and progressive change in the world. The qualities and skills a good designer should have are not only the marriage of creativity and problem solving but also the ability to foresee what might go wrong, what’s the impact on the existing ecosystem, and what would be the maintenance in cost of the designed product.

Designing for a better world.

Designing for a better use of our resources, a greener world.

Designing for happier humans and a sustainable economy along with the resources we have should not be a dream but a f*cking reality.

Designing using our waste. Reusing instead of recycling. Designing for generating less pollution. Making designs that aim to target not only the 1% but also the 99% and the rest of the world. Using design in order to provide everyone with clean water for example. Design that focuses on the well-being of humans starting with their basic needs. A peaceful design. Is that so foreign to you? Am I being “weird”? When did we start having such low standards? When did filthy values started becoming the norm?

You be a good boy Rupert!

I recently collaborated on the new website of N/A is Good a company that focuses on good marketing, their strategy is building brand communications that’s socially responsible. You can read more about cause marketing by reading their manifesto.

So imagine a world where good marketing meets good design. Where being good becomes something everyone (including our governments and big corporations) want to be. Maybe this is the beginning of my personal manifesto, who knows.

I am just sharing some thoughts that would sparkle a conversation. Sharing always helps shape ideas, and push concepts further into words, and into images.