Design is not the answer to everything but it certainly has an important role to play in almost everything that holds a society together. In light of the current economic crisis, several U.S. professional design organizations (AIGA, IDSA, and others), design education accreditation organizations, and Federal Government officials have seized the historic opportunity and joined forces to launch an initiative to shape a U.S. National Design Policy. In a moment of great global uncertainty and an erosion of national confidence, designers are perfectly positioned to take on a leadership role in "Re-designing America's Future," and the proposed policy is supposed to give them a more effective platform. "Design is the world remade in human form," the initiative's web site states. And there's a lot of remaking to do these days. We know that "Beautiful things work better." These days, however, only "meaningful" things make a real difference. And collective action is required.
As a result of a November 2008 meeting in Washington, the initiative has published "Redesigning America's Future: Ten design policy proposals for the United States of America's economic competitiveness and democratic governance." The document strives to demonstrate how design "improves policy success by making it relevant to the People." As stated in the document: "Design serves to advance the goals of the United State's economic competitiveness by saving time and money and simplifying the use, manufacturing, and maintenance of goods and services. It enhances democratic governance by improving the performance and delivery of government services."
More details can be found on the U.S. National Design Policy Initiative web site, including a downloadable version of the "Redesigning America's Future" report.
National Congresspeople received the publication in their mail boxes on January 20. If you support the initiative and want them to act upon it, you can write them directly.
In addition, you can take part in a viral video campaign that asks supporters to record a brief "I Pledge" endorsement to be uploaded to the initiative's YouTube page or the Facebook page.
Here's mine:
"We need a U.S. National Design Policy for three reasons:
First of all, design plays a pivotal role in creating iconic, desirable US products that the rest of the world envies. These products express the strong cultural identity and appeal that is the foundation of American 'soft power.' Soft power -- and I'm saying this as a German citizen who just obtained the American citizenship -- is powerful indeed. Design is the big connector, a catalyst for the exchange of ideas between the U.S. and other nations. Arthur Miller once said: 'America's biggest value is its promise.' Design is giving this promise a form.
Secondly, design is a catalyst for innovation. And innovation, simply put, warrants a nation with a future. Design is the link between idea and action; design connects technology with people; and design facilitates the convergence of analytical, strategic, and creative disciplines: from research to business modeling to industrial design to software design to branding and advertising. Design has the privilege of a holistic, systemic view on the development of new products and businesses. It is a powerful force not only for the US but every other innovation-fueled economy.
And, lastly, design, by its very nature, is bent on driving change. Design means changing things for the better. And the U.S. needs a lot of change -- citizen participation in government, sustainable infrastructure, and human-centric social systems that ensure a society based on empathy and mutual respect.
A U.S. National Design Policy would enhance the collective power of designers to make a significant contribution to all of these areas.”
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