In the beginning, design is to create beautiful things, those artistic creations, and crafts. However, as informatization progresses in society, the significance and purpose of design have also changed. We seem to be at a fork in the road. How to choose depends on our cognition.
Author/Copyright holder: Unsplash
Design as a Craft
Craft design can design useful and beautiful items, which is more like people’s instinctive artistic creation of beauty, but little attention is paid to social problems, philosophy, and the world. They are valuable and even can be added value. But it can’t play a leading role, because its idea and ability are limited, and it can’t solve the problems in our life, society, or the world.
Design as an Evidence-Based Discipline
More emphasis on interaction with people, people-oriented, and Reflection on design. And created new procedures and frameworks, such as people-centered design and design thinking. Design is not only limited to design, but also to look at the world from another perspective, to find the real needs of people and society. The scope and fields that designers need to consider are more extensive and complex, sometimes promote interdisciplinary cooperation between different fields. This requires designers to have a deep understanding of people, starting from evidence-based observation, conception, design, iterative testing in the process of solving, more and more in-depth solution field, continuous optimization, and finally solve the root cause and demand of the problem.
Source: Google
Design thinking helps to distinguish the new era of design from the traditional process design. In the form of concept, it shows the public that we are not focusing on developing beautiful things, we are looking at the world from a new perspective, increasing the usability of products and providing another value for the world.
In conclusion, there is no right or wrong between the two ways. You can choose two ways at the same time and integrate them. The world always needs these skills, whether it is the craft design that provides great value to human beings and has a long history of education, or the imperfect design thinking form that still needs to be explored. Of course, the future development trend may gradually tend to the latter, because the design is far more than just making pleasant and beautiful objects. But as for the choice, it’s up to you.
Thanks for reading. (*^▽^*)
