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Book Chapter

Creative bridges

How design masters ecological and social challenges

Reading time: approx. 3′ 17″

In the modern, technology-driven world, design goes far beyond functionality and aesthetics. It includes ecological, social and economic aspects and is closely linked to the development of new technologies and artificial intelligence. In a time of global challenges, design can act as a transdisciplinary bridge between technology and people and therefore act as a driving force for a fairer future.

Design and sustainability

In practice, design is seen as the foundation for sustainable future designs, with contributions inviting us to rethink and question design. The aim is to analyse past suffering and causes as well as to recognise the immense potential of design. The results include argued theses and practical recommendations that highlight new perspectives, value creation and role contexts for collaboration with the discipline of professional planning and design.

A quick and continuous change in the professional image of design is to be expected, especially with regard to the increasing direct and indirect industrial value creation of design. New demands on teaching and improved connectivity to other disciplines and professional groups are necessary. A corresponding personality development in university education and as a postgraduate concept for companies and employees is required. Core competences include analytical and critical thinking, creativity and innovation as well as leadership skills in complex and dynamic contexts.

From the perspective of industrial development processes, how do designers, engineers and other specialist disciplines work together optimally? The importance of appreciative collaboration, trust and acceptance as well as overcoming barriers in the work and communication process is emphasised. The added value and challenges of creative design in the development process are precisely demonstrated.
Product-service systems should be considered and designed holistically. Focus, purpose fulfilment and benefits for the customer based on the contextual requirements of the company are central elements. The design process requires a constant change between analysis and synthesis to achieve quality. The transition from concept and language to image and representation is necessary for the visualisation and variant development of solutions.

Goal and purpose of design

Ethical attitudes and education are crucial in shaping alternative futures. Sustainable and liveable design of tomorrow's environmental systems. A way of thinking that perceives the overall system as radically designable leads to a successful transition from constructive solution generator to explorative problem discoverer.

Design should be reorientated towards complexity-oriented solutions based on systematic thinking. It is not the material, but the materiality that creates the future. Design takes on a transdisciplinary role that leads to new design tasks for the good life. The focus of design should be shifted from the ‘what’ to the ‘how’.

The future of mobility and its practical design

Mastering of the complex design interrelationships is a strategic and systemic challenge. Integrative research in this area is necessary. A sustainable interlinking of specialist expertise achieves long-term added value and overarching practical effects.

System design is important for sustainable land use. Alternative win-win scenarios are developed and historical forms of management are transformed into new, optimised forms. By orchestrating geo-knowledge, cross-border yield optimisation and long-term nature improvements can be realised.

Conclusion

The integration and orchestration of design expertise in many fields of practice and value creation networks must be repositioned and understood. A designer of the future is a strong partner in problem analysis, synthesis and sustainable solution exploration. Competencies such as the bundling of multiple areas of expertise, complexity-appropriate solutions and the visual and dialogue-based communication of blurriness and contextual interrelationships are crucial. A systemic designer needs empathy, systemic thinking, creativity, communication skills, technical understanding, teamwork and a constant willingness to learn in order to meet the challenges of the modern world.

Published in

The State of Design

Year

2023

Authors

Oliver Gerstheimer

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