Design Appreciation
May 11, 2007 - David Hedden
ìCan you create fire with two sticks?”
“Do you know how to collect water from moisture in the ground?î
If you said ìYesî to either of these two questions, then you can appreciate the convenience of good design. These are just two of the many important survival techniques that less technology rich cultures must rely upon. However, in such technologically advanced societies as our own, the average person gets comfortable in convenience.
With gas and water pumped to your front door from some far off (out-of-sight, out-of-mind) place, and electricity and Bic lighters at your beckoning, you can bypass the daily struggle of lifeís basic necessities. We have moved so far forward from the basic standards of living that our society now lives in an almost virtual reality. With satellites, high-speed internet, and 3G networks, we now find that many people are living almost entirely in the virtual world. Technology is only expanding, at an exponential rate at that, and we can only imagine the luxuries that we will enjoy in the years to come. And you thought the Jetsons cartoon was about a fictional family, just wait.
Keeping our feet grounded in the basics and our heads aware of the present, we can imagine even grander visions of the future. By appreciating the distance that we have covered in design and innovation, we can make even greater ideas come to fruition. Take a moment to think about how design has increased the ease and usability of your life. Now, go get your hands dirty, and join me in the modern Renaissance of Design.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Well said Professor