Hi Susan
I was about to go off and think of my Chinese Antiques and Chinese
art problem and some domestic issues... I think I will make a quick
reply before logging off.Its Friday
anyway.
On 6/14/08, Susan M. Hagan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi Karen,
>
> I like the general idea, and I think that it's important. And while I know I
> can be way too practical, I wonder a little if the high-society
> gala/humanitarian convention dichotomy doesn't interfere with the kind of
> peaceful world that I believe you really want to see. But from my practical
> (daughter of a union worker) viewpoint, I believe that solutions (including
> design solutions) can emerge from a variety of venues.
>
I come from a modest family too. The reason why I got to go to those gala dinner
is because of the connections I had in school (they are now top
schools with plenty of rich alumni_and honestly, I don't exactly like
it.
But since I was there, I might as well play around with a glass of
wine which I don't drink and talk like them. Its fun in that aspect
but don't waste too much time in those events. Its generally for the
rich wives who have nothing much to do.
I still believe poor kids do better thinking for the prime reason that
they have no tutors and the only way to make it up the social ladder
is to use your brains and learn from nature's textbook. Either that or
you would pry your way to ask questions and answer them actively. So
design entails a high disciplined sense of enquiry yet able to form
different permutated sets of solutions.
These days there are way too many references for students to learn.
And for that matter I think better thinkers come from the older
generation.I don't mean to say we stop reading but I feel that over
reading of books, ironically curtails your ability to think out of the
box. Learning plainly from the internet do add tonnes of facts but it
doesn't grow you methods. The essence is from nature, and when you are
keep bouncing your questions back and forth and you keep working on
the hardware, somehow your brain will click in with the right answer.
there are answers to every questions. And often the solutions are very
similar in nature despite differenet methods.
Its fun.
The more you play with it, the better you are at it.
Enjoy !
Karen Fu
> Maybe people of good will have been to both, neither, and sometimes only the
> gala.
>
> (Full disclosure: I've never been to a gala, but I've got to admit, I'd love
> to go.)
>
> Susan
>
>
> On 6/13/08 1:09 PM, "Karen Fu" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Hi Johann
> >
> > thanks for your kind response.Probably going to repond your message
> > in a somewhat off topic way but I just thought I should write in.
> >
> > Your mention of the conference reminds me of Barack Obama's
> > voice for Change. I like his charisma. If he could tone a little down in
> > a more modest way, he could win a lot of support around the world.
> >
> > The world does need a change.-- a change where ego could be eradicated
> > and a common sense for honest convention comes in.
> > The best leaders are ones who are very succint
> > and creative in their strategies. The ones who can in reign long
> > are the ones who are thoughtful and kind.
> >
> > Design is about thinking. IMHO, thoughtfulness and a keen sense of
> > considerateness is the first step in designing things that are useful.
> > But I don't find a lot of people who are
> > able to do that though seemingly a simple requirement.
> > It's more about power and self interest.
> > Its like attending a high society gala and
> > a down to earth humanitarian convention.
> > There's a lot of hot air in the former.
> > But when you sit in the latter where doctors and
> > top engineers come to place, you do more
> > rewarding stuff.
> >
> > Crystals are plain simple and pure.
> > As such they are able to blend in any environment.
> > To come up with a beautiful world where there is no hate
> > no hunger, no riots, no war, the strategist got to know himself,
> > his brothers and their living environment. One can only totally immerse
> > and interact with the immediate when one knows how to remember others
> > better than themselves.
> >
> > Crystals sparkle. They brighten your day as they reflect
> > the wonderful light into a glorious rainbow of hope, love and peace.
> >
> > Karen Fu
> > Just me without the quotes,references and a Ph.D.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > .
> >
> >
> >
> > .
> >
> >
> >
> > On 6/13/08, Johann van der Merwe <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >> Karen
> >> I am convinced that the small brilliant crystal you mention can be
> >> found, or at least looked for - intrinsically, where the only source of
> >> power is to be found, and where the only application of power should be
> >> allowed, if we use the term 'power' at all (I'm really referring to
> >> 'control').
> >> Cybernetics - as second order observation, even of the self - only
> >> allows intrinsic control, therefore the material aspects of class can
> >> only be addressed by the group itself, not by the designer. Design
> >> solutions (in themselves trying to 'define' to the group what 'design'
> >> is and can do / 'afford' the group) cannot address, speak directly to
> >> class or material aspects. The individuals, as a group, as a network in
> >> Latour's example of actor-networks, must apply any definitions /
> >> differentiations / distinctions.
> >> The designer, as a human being trying to understand, must learn how to
> >> differentiate between self and environment, and so must every member of
> >> the group you wish to design for (communicate with).
> >>
> >> Design is indeed a way of thinking, for the designer as a structured way
> >> of communication, and for the user as a way of understanding some other
> >> insight besides the ones (culturally, economically, politically)
> >> situationally available at any one time.
> >>
> >> When you say "In humanity -- design is a solution that has to take care
> >> of what is
> >> genuinely in need and discard what is not beneficial to humanity" you
> >> are speaking the constructive language of Changing the Change - the
> >> conference in Torino this July!
> >> Wonderful.
> >>
> >> Johann
> >>
> >>
> >
>
> :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
> Susan M. Hagan Ph.D., MDes
> Carnegie Mellon University
> Pittsburgh, PA 15213
>
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