Why does design matter more today?

Here are three reasons why Daniel Pink says that design matters more today than ever before:

First, thanks to rising prosperity and advancing technology, good design is now more accessible than ever, which allows more people to partake in its pleasures and become connoisseurs of what was once specialized knowledge.
 
Second, in an age of material abundance, design has become crucial for most modern businesses - as a means of differentiation and as a way to create new markets.
 
Third, as more people develop a design sensibility, we'll increasingly be able to deploy design for its ultimate purpose: changing the world.

At the end of each chapter in this section of the book, Pink suggests several things that you can do to improve your understanding of the new 'senses'. For examples, here are some of his suggestions for design:

• Keep a design notebook
• Read design magazines
• Read Karim Rashid's fifty point guide to life and design (I think you will like this list.)

Next, we will look at the second of the five 'senses' that Pink says you need to master in order to succeed in the new right-brain world: Not just argument but also STORY.

Not just function but DESIGN

Let's take a day or two to explore the first of the six 'senses' that I introduced yesterday from Daniel Pink's book, A Whole New Mind, Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future. Pink calls the age we live in The Conceptual Age and he says we need to complement our left-brain reasoning (math, science, accounting) with right-brain aptitudes. These six high-concept, high-touch senses will help develop your whole new mind!

The first sense to develop is the sense of design. How about that? My two college girls are studying design, so you are well on your way! In the opening of the chapter on design Pink tells this story about the late Gordon MacKenzie, a longtime creative force at Hallmark Cards. (I bet you have heard it before.)

Mr. MacKenzie would often give lectures to grade school children (K-6). In short, when Gordon asked “Is anybody here an artist?” to a kindergarten class, everyone raises their hands with great animation and enthusiasm. As the lectures continue throughout the day, Gordon experiences significant attrition with only two hands being raised by the time he lectures to the sixth grade class. (Source)

Why do you suppose we all feel like an artist when we are in kindergarten, but by the time we are in the sixth grade that feeling is virtually gone? Why does design matter more today than ever before?

The Six Senses

Hey girls - It's Stay Whole Tuesday and I want to introduce you to something interesting. In Daniel Pink's book, A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the World, Pink introduces six new aptitudes that he says you will want to master in order to succeed in the future. 

Let's explore each of these over the next six posts:

1. Not just function but also DESIGN
2. Not must argument but also STORY
3. Not just focus but also SYMPHONY
4. Not just logic but also EMPATHY
5. Not just seriousness but also PLAY
6. Not just accumulation but also MEANING

Tomorrow, we will take a look at DESIGN and see why it is no longer good enough to  create a product, service, experience or lifestyle that is merely functional. "Today, it is economically crucial and personally rewarding to create something that is also beautiful, whimsical, or emotionally engaging."

Love this picture

Sally - sales

Sally,

Here's a good book for you to check out on selling. It is by Daniel Pink, who wrote A Whole New Mind. I hope you can read it sometime . . .

Love,

Dad

Emily's drawings - very nice

Required reading - What are Human Beings For?

Take a minute to think about this review of Daniel Pink's book, A Whole New Mind (subtitle: Why Right-Brainers will Rule the Future:

"Lawyers. Accountants. Computer programmers. That's what our parents encouraged us to become when we grew up. But Mom and Dad were wrong. The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind. The era of "left brain" dominance, and the Information Age that it engendered, are giving way to a new world in which "right brain" qualities-inventiveness, empathy, meaning-predominate. That's the argument at the center of this provocative and original book, which uses the two sides of our brains as a metaphor for understanding the contours of our times."
 
This book should be required for anyone pursuing a creative career. Now, think about this. When Daniel Pink wrote this book in 2005, he mainly talked about how our economic drivers were changing because of manufacturing jobs lost to outsourcing. That was easy to understand at the time. But he also spoke about a different shift that, at the time, seemed far-fetched and science-fiction-like. But now, just eight years later, that shift has occurred, just as he predicted.

Read this article (top to bottom), and let's continue to discuss: What are Humans Beings For? Your future opportunities and quality of life will be dramatically impacted by your ability to do things that can not be done by machines, robots, and 3D printers! "Right-brain qualities - inventiveness, empathy, meaning-predominate!" How do you develop those skills that will best prepare you for the future?

Good design and the economy

Sal and E,

We've been exchanging some text on the importance of 'design' as it relates to the changing world. I think you both can find amazing opportunities in the business world, if you continue to study this trend. This article caught my eye yesterday. I especially found the part about China wanting to change from 'made in China' to 'designed in China' interesting. Emily, you might share this article with Alazne, as I believe you told me she is studying to be an Architect. The author is a Vice President at Autodesk, and a professor at Yale.

Women power Wednesday,

Dad

Spring Island - Sally

Riding Romeo

The Bisger's home on Spring Island

Fit as a Fiddle Friday - healthy knees

Hey girls,

Here is something I want each of you to read. It is an article from a physical therapist on the importance of healthy knees. You will find it here.

The key points are to strengthen your butt, your core, and your quads. Also, maintain a healthy weight and protect your feet!

Stay fit,

Dad

I am alive, I am wonderful, I am, I am

“To live every day as if it had been stolen from death, that is how I would like to live. To feel the joy of life, as Eve felt the joy of life. To separate oneself from the burden, the angst, the anguish that we all encounter every day. To say I am alive, I am wonderful, I am. I am. That is something to aspire to.” ― Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain

Imagine Design and Create a Better World

Sally, Emily and Lucy,

Take a look at this interesting short video from Autodesk and think about it in terms of your (possible) careers in design. The planet is estimated to have 9 billion people living on it by the year 2050. You can see the predicted distribution of the population on this map. There are 7 billion people in the world today. What does this mean in terms of where and how people are going to live? How can you prepare yourselves to add value to the world through better design?

By the way, our company motto is: 'To help people imagine, design, and create a better world.' Pretty cool motto.

Love,

Dad

On spiritualism and science

“I don't understand why people insist on pitting concepts of evolution and creation against each other. Why can't they see that spiritualism and science are one? That bodies evolve and souls evolve and the universe is a fluid package that marries them both in a wonderful package called a human being. What's wrong with that idea?” ― Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain

Stay whole girls . . .

Color theory class - SCAD

Emily's assignment in color theory class - take a black and white landscape and add some color

That which we manifest is before us

My favorite quote from 'The Art of Racing in the Rain' . . .

“That which we manifest is before us; we are the creators of our own destiny. Be it through intention or ignorance, our successes and our failures have been brought on by none other than ourselves.” ― Garth Stein

Take some time to think about this one. Enjoy the weekend!

Get in the game

“There is no dishonor in losing the race. There is only dishonor in not racing because you are afraid to lose.”  ― Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain

Sun is shining again in Austin. It was great to get some rain the past couple of days! Mom is on a yoga kick, going again today with Margo Ritchie. Proud of her. WASBAF girls!

On listening - again

Mom told me yesterday's post was difficult to read on her phone, and I checked my phone and found the same problem. So I am sending this again from The Art of Racing in the Rain:

“Here's why I will be a good person. Because I listen. I cannot talk, so I listen very well. I never deflect the course of the conversation with a comment of my own. People, if you pay attention to them, change the direction of one another's conversations constantly. It's like being a passenger in your car who suddenly grabs the steering wheel and turns you down a side street. For instance, if we met at a party and I wanted to tell you a story about the time I needed to get a soccer ball in my neighbor's yard but his dog chased me and I had to jump into a swimming pool to escape, and I began telling the story, you, hearing the words "soccer" and "neighbor" in the same sentence, might interrupt and mention that your childhood neighbor was Pele, the famous soccer player, and I might be courteous and say, Didn't he play for the Cosmos of New York? Did you grow up in New York? And you might reply that, no, you grew up in Brazil on the streets of Tres Coracoes with Pele, and I might say, I thought you were from Tennessee, and you might say not originally, and then go on to outline your genealogy at length. So my initial conversational gambit - that I had a funny story about being chased by my neighbor's dog - would be totally lost, and only because you had to tell me all about Pele. Learn to listen! I beg of you. Pretend you are a dog like me and listen to other people rather than steal their stories.”

― Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain

On listening

It's the first Stay Whole Tuesday of the semester / quarter and I thought I would share some insights from The Art of Racing in the Rain. I have been reading the book to Lucy, so I am going through it a second time. I am finding my favorite nuggets and will share with you over the next few days. This first quote is on listening . . . pretend you are a talk and be a good listener to your friends!

“Here's why I will be a good person. Because I listen. I cannot talk, so I listen very well. I never deflect the course of the conversation with a comment of my own. People, if you pay attention to them, change the direction of one another's conversations constantly. It's like being a passenger in your car who suddenly grabs the steering wheel and turns you down a side street. For instance, if we met at a party and I wanted to tell you a story about the time I needed to get a soccer ball in my neighbor's yard but his dog chased me and I had to jump into a swimming pool to escape, and I began telling the story, you, hearing the words "soccer" and "neighbor" in the same sentence, might interrupt and mention that your childhood neighbor was Pele, the famous soccer player, and I might be courteous and say, Didn't he play for the Cosmos of New York? Did you grow up in New York? And you might reply that, no, you grew up in Brazil on the streets of Tres Coracoes with Pele, and I might say, I thought you were from Tennessee, and you might say not originally, and then go on to outline your genealogy at length. So my initial conversational gambit - that I had a funny story about being chased by my neighbor's dog - would be totally lost, and only because you had to tell me all about Pele. Learn to listen! I beg of you. Pretend you are a dog like me and listen to other people rather than steal their stories.” 
― Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain

Staying well - Make it a Great Monday

Welcome back to college Sally and Emily. How were classes today? We are proud of both of you girls. I want you both to make it a priority to stay super healthy this semester. I did a little research and found a dietary supplement that I hope will help keep your immune system strong. It is called Adapten-All. 

Please make it a priority to take one tablet every day. You can read about the product here. I know both of you work very hard in the classroom and working out. This supplement helps keep your adrenal system strong and will help you fight off colds and flu bugs. Sally has a bottle and we are mailing a bottle to Emily.

Lucy starts back tomorrow. Mom and Dad in full gear already. Grandpa turned 81 today and had a date tonight! BeBe's birthday is January 10th.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Hey girls,

We are back to just mom, dad and Lucy at the house. Sally in route to Athens this morning and Emily safely in Savannah after the long drive with Sam, via some fun times on the Florida coast. 

Here is a book that I just finished that I think is a must read . . .

“That which we manifest is before us; we are the creators of our own destiny. Be it through intention or ignorance, our successes and our failures have been brought on by none other than ourselves.” 
― Garth Stein

Check out The Art of Racing in the Rain here. Be sure to watch the short video. You will never look at Bailey the same again.

I love you,

Dad