What makes a leader?
Or at least a good follower? From what I know, design leaders need to listen to various aspects in product innovation. Math and Science is one; Arts & Humanitiesis the other and Conscience and Creativity being the most important. I think open mindedness and modesty are 2 prime areas for being a leader.
But I think the latter 2 areas are a little hard to achieve because ego is what a lot of people have....
Here, I am posting part of my written thoughts about the issue.
Part of my post: design education.But most part of my post: who/what will help me fill up my puzzle to become the 100% all rounded innovator? Education/work/life experience?
Quote myself:
'When we had the conversation, a few things come to my mind when wetalked about architecture and product design.
I also agree with the point about the core emphasis in science and
math. I never question about that, that was exactly why
I pounced on to your (-----) course the moment I saw it. This issue has been
a hot debating topic in the product innovation field. I like Don
Norman's arguement for a strong science and tech background. Without
that you cannot 100% control the whole innovation process of
everything. Through my experience, both academic and industry and self
realisation, I think the engineering aspect is vital. But I also think
that the humanities and arts must weigh the same. Otherwise we cannot
differentiate between a mechanical product designer/architectual
engineer from a product designer/architect. It is not easy to cramp
everything within 3-4 years of study. So when I picked my first
degree, I picked the one that teaches how to sharp and creative in
various material/appearance design/technology/applied engineering There are world class designers/architects whose math / science may
not be to the depths of the engineer. But they are also able to
understand the concepts and workings of such math and science
backgrounds. I am the perfectionist type who would like to master this
engineering aspect which my academic course could not fit this in,
because they choose to focus on humanities and arts rather than to try
to teach all with no in depth specialisation in any. So I thought its
up to me to fill the 3rd aspect of the product innovation in ---- that
is the sciene and math aspect. <snipped>
<snipped> I do not hold any postgraduate degrees but I was admitted
to a few very fine colleges (snipped) for product/industrial design based on product creativity,
ideas and sustainable design.I didn't attend because I had financial
difficulties even to attend 1 year of the courses before they could
offer full scholarship. But I sat on committees for design innovation .... at (snipped) probably
because of me being the 'naughtiest' referee who refuse to get
squished out because I was poor & without a postgrad. The basis of
these courses, I feel, look at character and creativity & the sense of
thinking. But I sense your college seem to place math and science in
1st position before everything, if I am correct. I've seen Americans
from Stanford and MIT visiting RCA (Royal College of Art, London) and
I know what I have and what they have. Usually MIT product designers
go to RCA for the art part....(snipped)
I was hoping to attend the missed function where all the profs are
there and it would be much easier to convey ideas and thoughts with
some visuals. Unfortunately it was over. The idea of product
innovation is very different between a hard core engineer and hard
core designer. But eitherway, the best of these cohorts produce the
top ideas and best designs. Dyson, an arts grad was one of them. There
are lots in Europe who are arts based. But I feel the wholerounder has
to take more 6 years academically + lifetime of keen interest in
making lives better to be a junior master in product innovation for
skills. Creativity being the most important in any science, art,
technological innovation. I wonder how your profs there think? It
would be interesting debate but right now, I want to sort my case out.
Sorry about the length of the post. I just did it at one go.
Karen'
