2D Ethical Design
"Design For Life" 2009 // Philippe Stark
Watching the first introduction episode of Philippe Stark’s “Design For Life” in many ways was very amusing, Amusing to see other industrial designer being put on the pedestal to showcase “their” novel conception. The competition in finding a new upcoming design protégé definitely challenges the competitor’s sustainable views on social, economic and ecological by setting tasking tasks outside their comfort zone.
One of the most interesting things that took place in the “Design for Life” was the fact that many of the young designers had this fierce competitor’s façade with put into the corner. The arrogant attitudes in some slowly took over their somewhat friendly introduction personality when they were challenging designs as a group or even individually. From a person view being immersed in this environment is not always a good thing because people get caught up in the tactics of the “game” rather than finding the real flare, heart, soul, purpose, common goal of a design.
There was one segment that stood out from the rest, where the designers where given €100 and find an item/s that represented the male and female genders. Most people didn’t understand the real meaning behind this exercise and to be honest I didn’t either, but there was one designer who basically just bought a power point extension. His theory behind it was that he chose an item for the female form and stated that each plug represents an emotion, first for romance, second for elegance, third for intelligence, forth for honesty and the fifth for nurturing. Once this guy describe his answer to Philippe it was clear what the challenge was all about. It made me understand that design is all about the meaning, the purpose and how we approach design in the right way where it ticks all the boxes for ethical, sustainable and ecological design. Basically taking it back to its natural form, the basics, skeleton of necessity.
It certainly gave me a greater appreciation of what it definitely around us, the emotions that make us endure what we do, the natural depth that people do make mistake and how education and experience is a vital tool to create an ethical design.
