I said it!
“The design industry is driven, by creative exclusivity aligned with commercial availability.
Many designers strive to create unique and original work that sets them apart from their peers and competitors.
This can help establish a designer’s reputation and differentiate their work in the market.
However, designers must also consider commercial viability for their designs to be successful and reach a wide audience through several values, including accessing their memories, recollections, form, function, sustainability, quality and affordability. These values can be challenging for designers.
Some designers achieve this synthesis by working on a wide range of projects, from
commercial commissions to more experimental or personal work. Others may focus on a specific niche or market, where they can differentiate their work while still catering to the needs and preferences of their target audience. Ultimately, the key to success in the design industry is the ability to strike a balance between creative and
commercial availability.”
“A lot of great design relies on empathy and understanding the experience of others. Empathy is a crucial skill for designers. By developing empathy, designers can create designs that are more effective and impactful, inclusive and accessible.
By understanding the diverse needs and abilities of their users, designers can realise designs for people of all backgrounds and abilities. By developing empathy, designers can create designs that are truly great and make a positive difference in the world.”
“The product is king, not the portrait!
I always disliked the idea of a product being displayed on a plinth! Even more so if it’s a piece of furniture. There’s nothing worse than walking around the Salone in Milan confronted with a ‘piece’ displayed on a one-
meter-high stand with a portrait of its designer four meters tall. The hierarchy should put the product first. Ultimately, the importance of the product in the world of design is a matter of personal opinion. Some people prioritize the product above all else, while others put more emphasis on the designer.”
Design is an intellectual discipline because it involves the use of critical thinking and creative problem-solving to develop solutions to complex challenges. Designers are responsible for creating visual, spatial, and experiential solutions that are functional, aesthetically pleasing, and meet the needs of their clients or users. Designers use a variety of tools and methods to research, analyze, and synthesize information in order to understand the needs and preferences of their clients or users. They then use this information to develop creative solutions that are both effective and innovative. Designers play a crucial role in many industries, from architecture and engineering to graphic design and product development. Their work has the power to shape our built environment, the products we use, and the way we interact with the world around us. As a result, design has an important role that has the potential to impact people's lives in many different ways.
Theo - 2011 - Head of Design - John Lewis
In the design process, intuition and emotion can play an important role in inspiring and guiding creative solutions. They can help designers tap into their creativity and generate unique and innovative ideas. Relying solely on them is rarely enough to produce a successful design. Designers must also harness rational and analytical thinking to evaluate and refine their ideas. Ultimately, the most successful designs are the result of a balance between intuition, emotion, and rational thought. By combining these different modes of thinking, designers can create solutions that are both creative and practical, while meeting the needs and preferences of their clients or users.
Theo - 2016 - Design Director - Kingfisher plc