Jerry Diethelm wrote:
> Is there an interesting development in design theory taking place
I think you've pointed to at least two Jerry,
First of all the idea of attending to the social origins of a design
"problem" That seems to fit with two different related issues - if
wicked problems are at work it makes sense that designers attend to the
social context for their undefinable problem rather than go mad trying
to define it. Then there is the reason we are here on this list, the
rise of research as a valid activity for designers, meaning that there
are more people in both the academy and in industry attending to the
background of the discipline.
Then there's MP's issue, which chimes with Clive Dilnot's message at the
EAD conference last week, that we need to become more subversive (at
least that's how I read it Clive?) and certainly there are a good few
people these days using design for political or other subversive
purposes. Two of my favourites are Human Beans
(http://www.humanbeans.net/powerpizza/) and "Love Your Bike"
(http://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/lyb/index.php) the website run by
Manchester Friends of the Earth to promote urban cycling with a message
based on fun and style rather than good intentions. And the "Man in Seat
61" (www.seat61.com) is another gentle guerilla out to subvert us with
glimpses of a more leisurely way of life. Of course these people aren't
old-fashioned designers working to somebody else's brief, some of them
didn't even go to design school (how terrible :o), but they are finding
new ways to be successful while staying true to their beliefs.
best wishes from Sheffield
Chris
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