Second day was a full day packed with provocative speeches and hot taboo topics.
Let’s start with John Maeda, the President of Rhose Island School of Design (RISD).
Design Education
John Maeda, President of RISD
Here is what John said:
Design + Art
= Creating solutions to meaningfully asked questions
Technology + Business
= Using new possibilities for customers
Design + Technology + Business
= Using new possibilities to create solutions for customers
Design + Art + Technology + Business
= Using new possibilities to create solutions to meaningfully asked questions for customers
All the discussion about “design thinking”, designers solving complex problems, designers role in corporations, got me thinking about the definition of design. How do we raise design awareness and the standards of design to the level where designers are treated as true professionals and as equals to other professionals like engineers, programmers, lawyers and doctors?
Maybe designers can’t be treated seriously because there are no standards to define our profession. Should there be standards? And what are those standards? And who determines them? Maybe there is a need for legislation similar to the interior design or architecture profession. If we have such high regards for design and expect designers to “change” the world and designers are the “catalysts” for innovation, then treat us with respect, dignity and as equals.
Continue reading “DMI Conf. Day 2 Recap: Design Education, Empathy, Sustainability, Sex & Sensibility, Health & Coding.” →
