Pop Teck Talks

Christian Nold – Our environment is a emotional landscape, of which can be mapped and studied.

Vanessa German – Words are very powerful and have the ability to evoke all emotions, making it an art within its self.

Carl Honore - In this fast paced world, in order to appreciate all that surrounds us we need to “relearn the lost art of slowing down and shifting gears in our daily lives.”

TED Talks

Ross Lovegrove – Beautiful forms can be seen in the natural growth patterns all throughout nature.

Niel Differient – Industrial Designers take into account the behavior and relationship with the many objects that surround us every day (big and small).

Tim Brown – Using play in designing and other aspect of work can be quite beneficial, through techniques like playful exploration, playful building and playful role-playing.

Do Good Design - Reflection 2

The second half of the book, Do Good Design by David Berman further explores the issues revolving the morals and ethics of designing and being a responsible designer. Much like the first half of the book, chapters 7-9 surface some of the hidden design tactics of the business world. Some of the biggest money making businesses use clever and smart design to impact the public in negative ways. In Chapter 8 the prominent topic is the power that the designer has. More specifically, it talks about how many marketing and sales designers have the power to impact society. Designers have the CHOICE to promote both worthy and hazardous products. The book brings up a good point in the decision to promote an unbeneficial product, such as cigarettes. Cigarette companies have created sly marketing designs in order to lure the young and uneducated (those who are less aware of the hazards of the product). These designers are not promoting a healthy world. Designers have the incredible power of controlling the relationship between the public and the commercial. The book emphasizes that designers are responsible to “communicate accurately, clearly and use (their products as) messages to reach and inform millions.” Designers have to strive to educate the society, and hopefully one day the “largest signs and most clever adds promote health behaviors.”

As the book progresses a little further the book makes a shift from how our end products can affect our global community to, how the designer can be more responsible and produce sustainable products. In addition, designers within the creative industry directly reflects their thoughts. Waste has become a huge issue today. Big changes don’t happen quickly. Knowing that, the arising designers need to make a goal to work together as a single force to better the world around us and to pass the message down. The book leaves us with a note of how urgent these issues and how valuable time really is. Ultimately, the message is, we are all called to act now in a positive, responsible and beneficial manor.