Comments on: Ethics and design

By: claudio

claudio — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 14:35:21 +0000

I wrote a reply a couple of days ago but it’s not here (maybe I didn’t save it, sorry).
Well, I agree with your idea to convert our “weapons”, the problem is that designers have to change their way of thinking and it’s really difficult. I don’t think it’s a problem of underestimation, the problem is cultural.
Here in Italy, for example, sometimes I speak with other designers (older and well known than me) about the importance of sustaibility and they usually say “oh, interesting but it’s too difficult” or “too politics”(?). And design school just teach (as you said) how to make a good logo or a good poster but they don’t teach to think in a different way.
I think good and sustainable works are the first step to make and communicate the possibility of change.

By: claudio madella

claudio madella — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:04:27 +0000

Hi P! I like very much the idea of using the same weapons of market to promote other, sustainable way of living.
The problem, as I can see here in Italy, is that designers themselves don’t try to think in an other way. I spoke with other collegues (older and well known than me) about the “ten ways design can fight climate change” and they just said “oh yeah,interesting but too difficult, or too politics”. I don’t think its a problem of underestimation but a problem of culture (and politics). Like you say in the article, actually, in design schools, students learn to use softwares just to be ready for the market, without using their brain. The first thing to do (and you do!) is make campaign to change the way of think (and live).
In this way, the tapwater campaign is great!

By: provokateur

provokateur — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:24:00 +0000

Hi Claudio – glad you found the article interesting. Yes, I know it’s a rather grand statement to say ‘design can save the world’ – a bit too grand perhaps. But think of it this way: many of the greatest challenges we face, most importantly climate change, require a substantial shift in human behaviour and values. Communication is at the absolute front line of making this shift. Just as advertising has been an integral part of creating our consumer society and mindset, so the same persuasive communication must be used to promote an alternative, more sustainable way of living. Obviously no one thing can ’save the world’ – but design and communication exerts incredible influence on how we live. As designers we don’t just produce pretty pictures – we are key actors in shaping the mental environment within which we live, something the folks at Adbusters have long argued. The key point of my article is that designers substantially underestimate the influence they have. The triumph of consumerism is a testimony to the power of design and communication – my belief is that if the same energy and determination was put into promoting a more sustainable, value-driven lifestyle then, yes, design could play a real part in saving the world from itself.

By: claudio madella

claudio madella — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:53:19 +0000

interesting article! here, in Italy, there is a little discussion inside Aiap (the italian graphic design association) about the social responsability of designers and their role in the public space. I don’t think design can really save the world but, as propagators of ideas, can change the way of think. The problem is that designers themselves have to change their ones (and in Italy the scene is terrible).