Hi Ken, Klaus, Nicola and all,
According to my widget, the local temperature has just hit 36.2°C--
the joys of greenhouse living!
I offer you a slightly different perspective. Focus on the
'defining' part of 'defining design' The act of defining is only
possible because we designed 'languaging' many millenia ago, and
continue to design new and different varients of 'languaging'. The
rest is just elaboration.
Think of the relationship between the design of counting systems and
economics. Some of the oldest 'documents' (clay tablets), made
commerce possible.
Think of the relationship between the design of drawing systems and
industrial production. Drawings, particularly technical drawings,
made mass production possible. etc, etc
I'm not suggesting that counting systems 'caused' commerce, or that
drawings 'caused' mass production, but there is an interdependence.
Another way of looking at 'stages' of history or 'progress' is
through the lens of cumulative 'languaging' designs, redesigns and
refinements following prototype testing. Our current prototypes, as
it were, will go through further testing and we will have to redesign
them following the results.
Often the most important things are right under our noses: designing
and languaging are different manifestations of the same process. As
designers, we need a designerly view of history.
This, by the way, was written, quite literally, in the heat of the
moment.
A merry end of year to all(years being one of our designs) and a
happy start to the next.
David
--
blog: www.communication.org.au/dsblog
web: http://www.communication.org.au
Professor David Sless BA MSc FRSA
Director • Communication Research Institute •
• helping people communicate with people •
Mobile: +61 (0)412 356 795
Phone: +61 (0)3 9489 8640
60 Park Street • Fitzroy North • Melbourne • Australia • 3068
|