In recent blog posts and articles designers and business people have been writing about garnering, what I call, “value” in what we create. This word value has finally come to the forefront again of many discussions, both within design, business, and design education communities.
All this buzz around once again putting value in what designers create to the top of the discussion is very exciting to me as a design educator. Over recent semesters, I’ve found it rather difficult in conveying this need to students. One of the reasons that comes to mind as to why this was happening is the desire and perhaps in some cases, the false perceived need in some companies minds to imitate or copy products and services that have been commercially successful in the market place. Hence, students seem, to just want to imitate or copy what has already been done. Innovation and thought seem to reside on some other planet for many students.
With the need to garner “value” in what designers create and companies market again being seen as critical, I now have tools that I can use to guide students to this framework of thinking.
What are your thoughts on this topic?
Ayana Airakan-Mance | design : speak 