Dear Ken,
The social scientists might start from the premise that things are what they are. For those involved with the sciences of the artificial, things are what they could be.
That is, as design educators, as designers, as engineers, as humans, we are all interested in bringing about the changes in circumstances and things that will lead to changes in what IS such that our lives are different if not always better.
As an educator I am constantly drawing the attention of students to the gap between current professional practice and some ideal potential future state. Having examples to show students of alternative ways of going is a major part of my theoretical and research work. Students don't like to be told, over and again, of the bad aspects of their professions regardless of whether or not these are the dominant reality in today's professional world. For example, I suggest that female designers look at working examples on non-sexist design studios rather than going over and over the survival instructions for how to get along in a bully boy world.
I can concur with everything that Don has said on this topic, and everything that Terry has said on this topic. That is, this is a key issue deserving close attention. We all turn old and fixed in our social circles unless we bother to attempt to stay young by hanging around with a crowd of varied and divergent souls such as inhabit this list. I know that's why I like this list.
Cheers,
keith
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