CARTE BLANCHE “good design is as little design as possible” dieter rams, from: the 10 principles of good design
fritz frenkler
there is nothing man-made that cannot be associated with design. our world is designed. many people are not aware of this – for them, design only means “making things pretty”. even some designers still think they need to create something “pretty”, this is what the understanding of design suffers from. however, today, design is much more than that; it is more than only that form must follow function. as designers, we need to look at the overall system, the application and necessity of a product, product system or service (product). we must combine awareness of the societal context and the challenges of our time with technological developments. it is about designing socially, ecologically, and humanly appropriate products that have a positive effect on our society and environment. technology cannot be political, but design can, and it must take a stand. we must all accept the challenge of representing the interests of a decent life. this includes not only producing desirable products, but also making it clear to companies and organisations that a new product does not work and is not necessary if it is socially questionable or ecologically problematic. ecology (sustainability) is one important factor to consider when designing and manufacturing a product. in a contemporary society that celebrates abundance and consumerism, which has led to the catastrophic climate issues, reduction and sustainability should be put at the centre of the design approach. reduction is often associated with restraints and austerity. however, it does not necessarily need to lead to limitations but rather can boost efficiency and encourage innovations. we don’t need to buy new products, if the ones we purchased initially are of a good quality. we don’t need to produce so much waste, contributing to soil and water pollution, if there is more value attached to the choices of materials at the production stages. through qualitative research, high functionality, and sustainable resources, design can only benefit from reduction.
