Earlier this week I started thinking about what makes a designer. The question had crossed my mind many times, but hearing it discussed by a design outsider gave me a different perspective on the idea. The design outsider in question was film director Gary Hustwit, being interviewed on the Spark podcast about his new film “Objectified”. The film is, as Gary describes “a documentary about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them”.
Early in the interview, Hustwit is asked what he learned about designers from making the film. He responds by describing some common traits among the designers he interviewed; “Obsessive…In tune with things that are inefficiently done or that don’t work right…Hyper-aware of the world around them”. While I would absolutely agree with Gary’s verdict, his perspective forced me to think about designers, and design as a whole, from an outside perspective.
It is no secret that designers view their profession as essential to society, but outsiders aren’t as generous to design. This difference is however a key opportunity. Designers need to wake up and realize that their often pretentious view of design is actually doing them a disservice. We are at a critical point in time where design is entering the consciousness of the masses. Films like “Objectified” go to show that there is a real interest in design and designers. It is at this critical point that we have an opportunity to educate outsiders about design.
One of the key aspects of design that I feel would help outsiders understand the industry better, is the designer perspective. Rather than touting the latest gadget or furniture design, we should be sharing the ideas of design, the thinking behind the products and how design helps improve things. While I know the market for this type of design coverage isn’t as flashy as glossy pictures, it disheartens me to see so little, even within the design community. I do think that this will begin to change, as Gary’s film suggests, there is an interest in learning about the process of design.
Rather than quarreling between designers about job titles, the industry should take this time to think about how the world sees design. We don’t have to prove ourselves to each other, but to the public
photo by Zlatko Unger
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