Statement and Thoughts on my Work as a 21ST Century Industrial Designer
It wasn’t till I read the book, Nature of Design: Ecology, Culture and Human Intention by David W. Orr that I became increasing concerned about the state of our world and within that, the state of our ecology. I believe I am here to design and to internally change the way people view our Earths resources. What I have learned through reading books like Nature of Design and taking college level courses like Environmental Issues in Science and Technology is that the way the human race is living right now is neither rational nor considerate. We are not rational because we know that Earth is finite in regards to its resources and we know that Earths natural sinks cannot keep up with our production of pollutants. But, we continue to use nonrenewable resources in shortsighted ways and then dispose of what’s leftover believing that it is no longer valuable. We are inconsiderate beings because we simply don’t take a sustainable approach to our lifestyles. Thus, one of my first principles of design must be sustainability.
Like Dieter Rams, I want my designs to come off being honest and to be relatively long lasting. But just because I want my projects to be honest that doesn’t mean they have to be simple or minimal. I think minimalism is something good to strive for but not to achieve because it is okay to show things off occasionally. Our habit of owning things only becomes bad when we become selfish and not think about future generations. A product being long lasting can be a huge selling point but most businesses. However, items that are long lasting, meaning 100+ years, are harmful for the environment because they are most likely made of materials that nature would take long periods of time to break down. Two examples of what I don’t like: Apple iPods – too short of life, break easily, too minimal. Second example, SUV and Midsize automobiles – relatively short working lifespan, take a long time to break down in nature, negative impacts on atmosphere and lithosphere when working, and needs lots of expensive maintenance. So, what does this mean for me? Better research and more work in general.
I have to keep working. If I don’t stay busy then my designs will become stagnant. And if my work becomes stagnant then they will become prosaic. I don’t want to be a person who makes everyday items that doesn’t take a sustainable approach to the design like a plastic coffee maker or something equally as mundane as that. I want to be making things that are colorful, interesting, and maybe even inspirational. I need my work to vary as well. I don’t just want to be doing product development. I need to be doing integrated design and construction; I need to be doing art installations that might fuse in sound art, writing and embracive imagery, I need to be doing naval architecture and I need to do projects that help underprivileged people. This is a lot of stuff I have hopes of doing but if I start now then maybe someday I can actually make a mark (or not make a mark) on the way our species operate and how our nature is affected. An organic change needs to happen in the way people utilize they’re resources. That change can come internally from designers like myself with knowledge in environmental conservation, sustainable practices and innovative ideas. All of these ideals I have studied and practiced. Now I just need to work.
Like Dieter Rams, I want my designs to come off being honest and to be relatively long lasting. But just because I want my projects to be honest that doesn’t mean they have to be simple or minimal. I think minimalism is something good to strive for but not to achieve because it is okay to show things off occasionally. Our habit of owning things only becomes bad when we become selfish and not think about future generations. A product being long lasting can be a huge selling point but most businesses. However, items that are long lasting, meaning 100+ years, are harmful for the environment because they are most likely made of materials that nature would take long periods of time to break down. Two examples of what I don’t like: Apple iPods – too short of life, break easily, too minimal. Second example, SUV and Midsize automobiles – relatively short working lifespan, take a long time to break down in nature, negative impacts on atmosphere and lithosphere when working, and needs lots of expensive maintenance. So, what does this mean for me? Better research and more work in general.
I have to keep working. If I don’t stay busy then my designs will become stagnant. And if my work becomes stagnant then they will become prosaic. I don’t want to be a person who makes everyday items that doesn’t take a sustainable approach to the design like a plastic coffee maker or something equally as mundane as that. I want to be making things that are colorful, interesting, and maybe even inspirational. I need my work to vary as well. I don’t just want to be doing product development. I need to be doing integrated design and construction; I need to be doing art installations that might fuse in sound art, writing and embracive imagery, I need to be doing naval architecture and I need to do projects that help underprivileged people. This is a lot of stuff I have hopes of doing but if I start now then maybe someday I can actually make a mark (or not make a mark) on the way our species operate and how our nature is affected. An organic change needs to happen in the way people utilize they’re resources. That change can come internally from designers like myself with knowledge in environmental conservation, sustainable practices and innovative ideas. All of these ideals I have studied and practiced. Now I just need to work.