A time for reflection

Jessica Helfand writes eloquently at Design Observer on the "Black Tsunami"...


To write about design in the wake of such tragedy seems to trivialize it — and yet, it is precisely in the acknowledgment of design that some kind of reality is once again established. There will be, no doubt, issues raised by this hurricane and its questionable aftermath — issues relating to disaster relief and even municipal reconstruction — that require a kind of vital, critical and engaged visual dialogue. But for now, we wait. We read. We empathize, extend ourselves, reach out in other ways. And we reflect, in these last, fragile days of summer, on the painful irony of a world in which the material evidence of our man-made environment can be pulled from under us in an instant, by a cascading torrent of wind and rain. Design is, can be, should be about so much more than making things that can vanish in a storm.

Design for need...NOW!

This post is challenging. I keep editing it because:

Trivializing the tragedy is not acceptable
Empathy for human suffering
Sensitivity to fellow human feelings

I have thought a lot about removing the post - but have decided to keep working on it to distill something of value.

Will governments, industry, community leaders and individuals, [designers are implicated more than others]make the connections between the positive benefits of designing objects, products, systems, services, infastructure, cities, energy systems, educational and health faciltities so that they meet the needs of people? The list includes disaster, aid and rescue services and systems.

We have known about what humans need for a long time.

It is saddening to see the horrific degradation of the post apocalyptic scenes we observe in the wake of Katrina. This saddness is sharpened especially when we examine the spectrum of contributing factors.

Of what value are vacilations about "innovation", "design thinking", service design and user experience while apparently advanced nation states cannot look after their own communities effectively, despite the clear capabilty to do so?

No-one can accurately predict terrible natural disasters of the magnitude of the recent tsunami and storms like Katrina and the others that will likely follow her. However when nations and industry continue to support the design and manufacture of systems and products that create the likelihood of such human threatening scenarios though global warming we can see that "design" can be used to create terrible outcomes. It is design - make no mistake! Papanek said that design was the conscious act of organisation to achieve a foreseeable objective.

America and Australia have refused to endorse and impliment the Kyoto Protocols preferring to adhere to existing and outmoded industrial practices that contribute to the problem of global warming. Alternative and sustainable strategies and design for living is urgently required but this requires leadership. Despite amazing innovation many world leaders are not showing the way forward...

Curious contrasts....

There have been two devastating storms happening in the last week. One in the US and another - a typhoon over Taiwan/China. The contrasts in level of media coverage and also content relating to the storms are interesting and can be seen here and here.

What's interesting to me is the level of coverage each event attracted. Relatively speaking despite impacting on approximately 600,000 people the Chinese event attracted little coverage. The nature of the state response in each case can also be subject to debate at many levels. It is clear that the magnitude of the storms can not be compared. None the less the contrast is quite revealing and food for contemplation.

To put the tragedy in the US into further perspective is this letter to the editor published today in the Sydney Morning Herald by Zoë Trypas...

Thirty years ago after Cyclone Tracy, within 36 hours, including Christmas Day, Australia had a flotilla of planes flying aid and equipment in and people out of Darwin. Almost 100,000 people were evacuated to other capital cities within hours and days, not weeks. The evacuation of Darwin was finished in four days, not started. And in contrast to Katrina, the severity of Tracy was largely unexpected.


In Louisiana there are 20,000 people without food, water, and sanitation, locked in a sports stadium. What a pathetic effort.

Design does have political ramifications.

In contemplating and re-affirming my attitude that design has ramifications - social, environmental and political it was refreshing to stumble upon
Social Design Notes.

Print Magazine said this:

“Most designers agree, even insist, that design is more than clever imagery selling goods and services — it also influences how societies function. Social Design Notes, a remarkably informed and highly useful blog edited by John Emerson, explores design’s sociopolitical power and inspiration. A New York activist and designer who oversaw Web sites for Amnesty International USA and Human Rights Watch, Emerson launched his blog is 2002 as a ‘bridge between design activism — to push designers to think about acting in the public interest and to help activists see how design can facilitate their campaigns.’ Emerson explores how design is used to support and challenge the status quo, posting one historical note about the ‘Black Panther Coloring Book’ created by the FBI during the civil-right movement, and another about South Africa’s use of the comic book to prepare its citizens for their first election. Emerson also discusses the built environment, praising former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani for having championed design to improve the lives of the disabled. And Social Design Notes’ Resource page contains tools — such as free stock photos — designed to convert readers into true reformers.”

Cool.

"Fresh perspectives..."

Cheskin, the Design Research Agency has a great blog with very relevant and interesting material about several areas of interest to designers and innovators, including China , Design & Innovation , Trends and Youth ...All in all, lots to read.

Spotted...

A diverse range of links spotted of late>>
Trend Awareness for the designer and other potential innovators CREAX Trends Portal , Blogs>> Brand Driven Innovation , Creative Generalist , Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching , Notcot , Well deserved good news for the guys... Interest in CPH127 :-) , Something for the designers Karin's Style Blog >> New York , It could happen ;-)... Living in Bangkok , A very useful overview on collaboration Boxes and Arrows: Collaboration Sessions: How to lead Multidisciplinary teams