“Design is not for philosophy, it’s for life”
-Issey Miyake
What is design?
Most people would relate it to drawing and decoration. This is the public notion about what design actually is; while in reality, it is so much more. The true value and meaning of design are not easily understood by the commonality. At some point, one should understand that everything in the world is a byproduct of design. Every machine that is created to reduce human effort is the successful result of precise design and its proper implementation. The Design is not just an academic discipline of study, but a part of our life, and moreover it is a better solution for the problems we face.
Let us start the journey from the ancient times when our ancestors found it hard to fetch water from the underground. This resulted in the invention of the pulley system. It was around 1500 B.C that the people from Mesopotamia started using rope pulleys for upheaving water. Even though this machine follows a very simple mechanism, it is something we cannot do without it. This simple yet efficient machine is a by-product of Design Thinking. The problem of hoisting water was solved by the then-modern design of pulleys.Later, the invention of electric motors made the task further easy. Similarly, many such products are made with the intention of fulfilling human requirements.
According to Alice Rawsthorn design critic for The International New York Times “Design is one of the most powerful forces in our lives, whether or not we are aware of it, and can also be inspiring, empowering and enlightening”.
Design, like air, it is everywhere. From the clothes you wear, the houses you live in, the vehicle you drive, to the chair you are sitting on now. Design Thinking not only provides a solution to our problems but rather strives to always provide a better solution so that the problem ceases to exist. For example, after a long and tiring day, would you prefer sitting on a normal wooden chair or a soft reclining Barcalounger? Well, that is how design works in providing you the best possible experience!
Good design is not just about creating a good looking product. It stresses upon creating a positive user experience at every point of the user’s interaction with it. In the case of business too, the designer understands the problem of the client, fully considering the problem and finds ways to make the client understand the solution offered.
We are not just looking for a solution, but a better and proper response. There is always room for improvement in any solution offered. Thus, a design is something that should not be confined within the fine pages of a textbook. It is one of the main components that form our way of life. We should learn to understand, imbibe and appreciate it- for one, it makes our life much simpler!
