The Macgyver in us all

When I was a little girl my dad was constantly mad at me because I was always using his stuff for my “art” projects. Hide ya VHS tape ribbon, Hide ya dress shirt buttons, Sasha’s takin all the items up in hur. One time I actually drew a whole mural with Chapstick on my grandmothers wall because I knew she got mad when I drew on the walls with crayon, I figured Chapstick was like an invisible drawing only for me, my secret…sadly the shine of my secret mural was a dead give away. Emily Pilloton’s, Do more with less talk was very inspiring. I shared my childhood stories because Emily talked about her childhood inspiration MacGyver and how he could make all kinds of items from regular objects like gum wrappers or light bulbs. I can relate because I used to do that all the time as a kid and my grandma would liken me to a mini Macgyver when I was being particularly creative.

However, how she relates this to her bigger picture of the actual design process as an underutilized tool is also thought provoking and of great importance. She believes that design could be an invaluable tool to public education. Using the process of design for education, redesigning the space, materials, and experience for students, parents and teachers, as week as design as education could revolutionize not just what kids learn but how they learn. Memorization can only get students so far but if they were taught how to think, how to problem solve, if they are taught how to be creative, it would mean transforming everything.  I say everything because it not only changes that generation but it will alter society will work. It will be a ripple effect that could change the world.

I watched a few other videos in the 30 conversations library of design videos but the one by Pilloton really inspired and hit home for me. I also enjoyed Eddie Nunns talk, better for everyone. He talks about how design should be assessable by everyone and that the focus of future design should be on sustainable resources such as hybrid cars and solar energy. He also mentions that without design that we wouldn’t have wind turbines, which he seemed to have much affection for. The talk itself was not necessarily awe-inspiring but the idea is one I wholeheartedly agree with, that some of our future design efforts should definitely be focused on sustainable design.  However, I believe that wind turbines really need some work in regards to their design. Its impact on the bird populace is worrisome as well as the great amount of land that it can take up. But with design and creative minds we can prefect the wind turbine system. And that is what I love about design; it is always changing, innovating and creating. We all just need to tap into that inner Macgyver that I know we all have, to make a better world.