re-affirmed

there is so much i don't know,
daunting, but i won't be intimidated...

Thought droplet...

What something "is" isn't determined by form, it's really more by imagination and interpretation. Now, don't get me wrong, form definitely has a functional component where certain forms are more efficient than others in "doing" something, but what that "something" is, is ultimately determined by the user, not the designer. OK, more doing, less thinking...

of Milan, ICFF ....

New York Times Article, overview of Milan Furniture Fair.
Do we need another chair?
Do we need another ... anything?
We do need to progress, develop, grow (as individuals, as society...maybe the world "needs" a blood pen).
We need to "get better"...at being ourselves, however, whatever that may be.
We "need" to be better at who we are, and if that process involves a ridiculous chair? So be it.
We need to express, think/critique and practice (well, as designers at least) and repeat.

The chair is not the question, the question is are you doing what you want to be doing?
The world needs us to express our selves and be alive, however that may be,...design, art, math, science, engineering, rap, janitorial services, gardening, performing, writing...whatever.

The object isn't the problem, the profession isn't the problem, it's people not doing what they truly want to do, or doing things because of expectations outward or inward...that's the problem.

I love these sort of questions, they put things in perspective. At that, time for me get back designing ridiculous, meaningful and hopefully commercially viable things that people enjoy and will enrich their lives...in some way...hopefully.

Design Thinking - Everything and Nothing

Nice Article at Core77 on Design Thinking.
It's from a conference held by the Economist called the Big ReThink.
Whereas I'm skeptical of design conferences in general and the self proselytizing
(ra ra design!) that occurs, I thought this brought up some great points.

It does a nice job in examining the highlights, flaws and assumptions of "Design Thinking".

Among my favorite nuggets is this quote from Roberto Verganti:
'Radical innovation does not come from users.'

Another is the sense that "design thinking" has been oversold and
that designers want/need to get back to creating great design.

I definitely feel that.

Earthquakes

Haiti
Chile
China
Taiwan
Japan
Southern California

Isn't this a lot for 2 months?

Glimpse of Clarity

More words (lines, forms)
does not equal,
More clarity.

Fewer words (lines, forms)
Equal
Greater Clarity.

Singular thought,
Singular action,

A Pure object,
A Pure sense,

Clarity.

Move more or the flower gets it!

Fitbit tracks and measures how active you are and correlates this information via a flower graphic. Move or the flower dies!

I love products/objects that gear us towards movement/activity, but find it sad that they have to.

Interdependence

I think the biggest flaw of ALL disciplines is when they view themselves in such a narrow scope that it puts them independent of all other disciplines. And even worse, when they put themselves above all other disciplines without regard to them. Everything depends on everything else and cannot stand alone. Of course each has a critical value/role: business, art, design, marketing, sales, engineering, but the danger is in thinking that any one thing has the complete answer.

The value and power in design (or any discipline) occurs when this is realized and acted upon.

Everything has its strength,
Everything has its weaknesses,
Everything has its role,
Everything is interdependent.

OK, back to pretty pictures...

Interesting Read

the Optimalists