Let's talk about design

Design - watered down? Means little when it means so much, or too much?

Think of it this way. We’re all designers. At the end of every day, each and every one of us has a chance to look back on our day and evaluate how we chose to design our day. How did we design our day? By the choices we made throughout it.

Whether intentional or not, design is something we do. All of us. Every single one of us. Every day. Just like being creative.

And without adding detail or definition to what we mean when we speak of design, we leave it open for interpretation and invite confusion.

(Is this the same as creativity? I don’t think so. We don’t tend to speak specifically about what exactly we are creative in. Creativity seems to be a more effectively broad term in application and meaning. Creativity seems purposefully to be more far reaching and encapsulating. Though it can be applied in specific ways.)

Consider this, if I’m good at designing my work day, does that mean I’m going to be good at designing a rocket ship? Or a neurosurgery procedure? Not even close. It would be a terribly poor assumption to make, and one very few people would put their lives in someone’s hands under. Imagine needing a serious neurosurgery procedure to save the life of someone you love. Would you feel confident in someone with no specific experience in that? Or maybe consider what would offer you more confidence and comfort in such a situation. Would it make more sense to you to put the life of someone you love in the hands of someone with evidence of their “design” expertise as developed in that field? Or would you rather it be in the hands of a generalist?

Design shines as a specialization. Yet for some strange reason, the world seems to be rallying around the notion design is great when it’s generic. I wonder, has anything ever been great when it becomes generic? Maybe in a few people’s minds, but everyone’s, or at least in ways that are broadly accepted? McDonald’s comes to mind, and as a company that’s profitable, sure. Successful, maybe even “great” as a business. But for health and care of the human body and development? It’s laughable to think McDonald’s would be the go to place for a healthy diet and the development of greatness in human form. Silly, sure, but it’s an example of broad and generic “design” being appealing, even effective in some ways, but inevitably watered down and poor on performance in at least some ways.

Design needs association. On it’s own, it’s vague, nebulous, and ultimately not all that useful. With specificity, clarity, and assignment, design can be a game changer. Appropriately applied, design can support focus. Poorly applied, it creates confusion, distraction, and potentially much, much worse.

We’re playing with fire when we don’t clarify what we mean when we speak of design. Maybe I’m just ranting. But I can’t find any good examples of design that aren’t associated with something specific.

Industrial design. Graphic design. Motion design. Curriculum design. Architectural design. Environmental design. Infrastructure design. All clear forms of design.

Design… of what?