Comments on: Designing the Revolution http://blog.groundswellcollective.com/2008/01/30/designing-the-revolution/ Dedicated to critical cultural production at the intersection of art and activism. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:17:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: John Moorehead http://blog.groundswellcollective.com/2008/01/30/designing-the-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-541 John Moorehead Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:30:38 +0000 http://blog.groundswellcollective.com/2008/01/30/designing-the-revolution/#comment-541 James, thank you for bringing this up. This is a tough issue, to be sure. Simply put, this is the way we -as designers- communicate, and we are part of the world with a voice equal to everyone else’s voice. I have seen firsthand the impact design can have and I know the effort is not wasted. If there are people who commission us to help communicate notions of any kind through design, we must be “thinking designers” and carry the task in the best way we can. I appreciate the article’s intent of keeping us “in check” with the scope of solutions design is providing(or not providing), but that is the limit of the credit that I give Alex’s article. I’m too busy actively engaged in the process and development of better ideas rather than just innovative design. This article made me question those who theorize how design is produced like Alex, and how they can become more of an active participant in a solution. I think that is the heart of activism, and we see that doing solves more than saying. James, thank you for bringing this up. This is a tough issue, to be sure. Simply put, this is the way we -as designers- communicate, and we are part of the world with a voice equal to everyone else’s voice. I have seen firsthand the impact design can have and I know the effort is not wasted. If there are people who commission us to help communicate notions of any kind through design, we must be “thinking designers” and carry the task in the best way we can.

I appreciate the article’s intent of keeping us “in check” with the scope of solutions design is providing(or not providing), but that is the limit of the credit that I give Alex’s article. I’m too busy actively engaged in the process and development of better ideas rather than just innovative design. This article made me question those who theorize how design is produced like Alex, and how they can become more of an active participant in a solution. I think that is the heart of activism, and we see that doing solves more than saying.

]]> By: Scott Rains http://blog.groundswellcollective.com/2008/01/30/designing-the-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-540 Scott Rains Thu, 31 Jan 2008 08:17:58 +0000 http://blog.groundswellcollective.com/2008/01/30/designing-the-revolution/#comment-540 James, A thought-provoking analysis and a pleasure to read. As you know from our correspondence I write on Universal Design. Reading your essay reminded of a a distinction that Rudiger Leidner of NATKO made in a 2006 presentation "Tourism Accessible for All in Europe." ( http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/Tourism_for_all_in_Europe_Leidner_2006.pdf ). The distinction was between US conceptualizations of Universal Design and a European rebranding known as Design for All. At first I thought it was quibbling but his distinction is also a method for reinserting the vitality of the political/social justice dynamic into the design process: "...the main difference between the D[esign]F[or]A[all] idea and similar approaches such as “universal design” is that the targeted users should be involved in the process of product development." James,

A thought-provoking analysis and a pleasure to read.

As you know from our correspondence I write on Universal Design. Reading your essay reminded of a a distinction that Rudiger Leidner of NATKO made in a 2006 presentation “Tourism Accessible for All in Europe.” ( http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/Tourism_for_all_in_Europe_Leidner_2006.pdf ). The distinction was between US conceptualizations of Universal Design and a European rebranding known as Design for All. At first I thought it was quibbling but his distinction is also a method for reinserting the vitality of the political/social justice dynamic into the design process:

“…the main difference between the D[esign]F[or]A[all] idea and similar approaches such as “universal design” is that the targeted users should be involved in the
process of product development.”

]]> By: Ryan Christopher http://blog.groundswellcollective.com/2008/01/30/designing-the-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-535 Ryan Christopher Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:37:17 +0000 http://blog.groundswellcollective.com/2008/01/30/designing-the-revolution/#comment-535 Some important questions, no doubt. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Some important questions, no doubt. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

]]>