Problems and challenges in design
During this time, there was a lack of an overall orientation system. Whilst young designers shared their experiences, there was a lack of clear positioning. Designers were seen as manipulators and value creators, but the path to value creation remained unclear. A series of lectures on ‘Design between arbitrariness and values’ in the early 1990s ignited the debate further without providing clear answers.
Designers in training were often perceived as mirror images of each other, without any profound differences. An economic survival system was not conveyed. Design was self-contained and rarely looked beyond the disciplinary horizon. The lack of willingness for interdisciplinary collaboration led to a cycle without a learning curve. The post-Ulm design dinosaur held on to the conviction that external orientation was unnecessary, as the quality already existed in Kassel.
Influences
Helmut Krauch recognised the signs of the information society as early as the 1960s and 1970s. However, his innovative approach was often misunderstood and marginalised. Krauch was a pioneer of interdisciplinarity and challenged designers to look beyond their own boundaries. However, his ideas were perceived as premature in the 70s and were only heard much later.
The need for an interdisciplinary exchange of ideas only began to emerge in Germany at the end of the 1980s. Krauch's approach of promoting interdisciplinarity and opening up to other disciplines met with resistance. Nevertheless, he established these ideas in the Department of Product Design in Kassel.
The question ‘What is a system?’ preoccupied many students, including Oliver Gerstheimer. This question led him to Helmut Krauch, who did not give him any direct answers, but encouraged him to ask his own questions. Krauch emphasised that design is not everything and challenged Gerstheimer to think outside the box and engage with other disciplines.
This encounter led Gerstheimer to an interdisciplinary supplementary course of study, where he learnt from various professors how to think and apply systems. He learnt that systems are everywhere and permeate everything. This realisation radically changed his view of design.
Long-term influence and lessons learnt
By reading Krauch's writings and observing his methodical approach, Gerstheimer learnt the importance of thinking and acting systematically. He realised that everything, from product development to the planning of government systems, can be viewed as a system. This realisation shaped his further studies and his professional career.
Krauch's approach of promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and looking beyond the boundaries of one's own discipline remains one of the most important lessons for Gerstheimer. Today, he applies these insights in his work and sees himself as an evangelist of systems science. Krauch's methods and approaches are still of great importance to him today and inspire him to remain curious and think systemically.
The encounter with Helmut Krauch and his teachings have fundamentally changed Gerstheimer's view of design and its role in the world. He no longer sees himself merely as a designer, but as a systems thinker who is able to solve complex problems and work in an interdisciplinary way. Krauch's influence on his life and work is undeniable and will remain with him in the future.
