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A VIEW ON DESIGN
Design is a means to, at best, influence, change, and help.
With the challenges we face, design can more than ever impact environmental, economic, and social sustainability. The designer's role and ability to influence what is produced is both significant and limited. Through thoughtful choices in form, material, and technology, one can make a difference.
Design is much more than shaping materials. It gives the object a purpose, aesthetics, and functionality and requires craftsmanship. A product never functions as a solitary entity; it always interacts with its surroundings. This should challenge the designer to transcend conventional boundaries and rethink the relationship between form, function, and context, whether it concerns an industrial product or an experimental design project.
The choices we make reveal how we value the product in relation to people and the environment. Possible biases, values, and preconceptions are encoded in our design decisions. These design choices are not random; they reflect the world we choose to build.
Heart and mind.
To work with industry and serial production as a designer requires an understanding of materials, technology, and production processes. This drives us to be innovative and create solutions that address both current needs and future possibilities while finding a balance between tradition and modernity.
It is as much a philosophical endeavor as a technical one. The creative aspect involves research and experimentation—intuition meets intellect.
Since we are all part of a global context, heritage, trends, and ongoing changes in culture, industry, economy, and politics are intertwined. To meet and ensure quality and sustainability, we must be able to switch between zooming in and out while also being meticulous about details.
Margot Barolo, 2024