In Thirty Conversation on Design creative professionals offered small snippets of insight into the world of design. Here’s a round up of what I learned from some of the designers in the series.
Natalia Ilyin – Design hasn’t solved problems, it’s created problems. We need to move away from the established linear idea of design. Instead of a beginning, middle and end to solving problems, it’s time to start thinking of things in cycles.
Deborah Adler – It’s not the aesthetics or style, but rather the heart of design that matters. In order to solve a design problem, you must first establish a “love affair” with your audience. Only once you have figured out the audience can you truly solve a problem.
Jessica Hische – The main problem the needs solving is to address the death of print and more importantly unnecessary print. If something doesn’t add value or have strong motivation it shouldn’t be printed. The primary part of this problem for designers is pricing. Just because something it made for online publishing, doesn’t mean the designer should be paid pennies.
Jessica Helfland – Students (that’s us!) are the future as they are always looking, growing, changing. The biggest problem in design today is that designers think too narrow or look at a topic in the current time. Need to think about the future and open up our range of thought. Think in a less narrow, more international way.
Pete Docter – Always think, “how can I make people care?” Story IS design.
Daniel Pink – I you can erase you can create. The biggest problem needing to be solved: systems. Design thinking needs to be applied to the big picture. Instead of keeping antiquated systems that were once designed to maximize efficiency, but are now ineffective in the modern world (like education and healthcare), we need to rethingk the way these are done.