The past is all we have, since 'the past' also includes this very moment that has just passed, and 'the future' is a blank page that signifies nothing - it hasn't been designed yet.
The past is all important in view of where we want to be in the future - precisely in order not to repeat the past (mere copying of what is) and in order not to make the same mistakes - i.e., the future is the past re-designed, with more attention to what is 'real' in human association and networking.
I'm very much afraid that most of design repeats exactly what was done in the past ... a very unsystemic way to try to innovate (i.e., move into this 'nothing' that is the future).
Johann
Johann van der Merwe
HOD: Research, History & Theory of Design
Faculty of Informatics and Design
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
South Africa
>>> Klaus Krippendorff <[log in to unmask]> 08/13/10 7:41 AM >>>
francois,
history is only important when one fears to repeat it -- which design, by definition, never does. i am not saying that the past is irrelevant but it never tells you where to go, hence it is less important in view of where one wants to be.
klaus
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From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and related research in Design [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of François Nsenga
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 1:35 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Where do we want to go?
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Klaus
You wrote: "when you know where you are aiming at (process
description), where you are now (state description) is less
important."
But I think it helps a lot to know about the history and the present
state of any entity and its context, in order to steer better the
'innovative' process towards a 'preferred' future state.
Francois
Montreal
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