Design trouble ?

Blue Vertigo

An interesting interview with acclaimed designer Gadi Amit. This is much like putting hands into a fire because I know it is a subject with many opinions. But just as art and design products are subject for discussions every day so should the school systems of designers be. I am not to judge either about the American design school system or Mr. Amit's opinions. (Some I agree with and some I don't)

The possibilities, integration and need for technology the last decades, especially in regards to design, have left some school systems behind catching their breath  while others have chosen to run too fast. Which leads to a quote from the interview:  

"Many come from engineering programs that claim to be "design" programs. Lots have been taught some version of "design thinking," but most of that is devoid of any cultural, aesthetic, or form intelligence."

I believe a streamlined school system is not necessarily a guarantee for producing good designers. I think versatility in design education is just as important. Why? Look back in art and design history and you will find many examples of artists and designers sometimes paving way for new main directions within art and design, just because of a different background or training.

A concern is also if basic drawing skills in general is evaporating from design education. Even though most sketches in our digital world will only be part of a pre stage of a design project it is so important to have some elementary drawing skills; whether it is about the golden ratio or perspectives. Sometimes you need to get yourself out on a field or any space with a pen and paper to catch the true notion of distances, light and shadows. These are perception skills that can be difficult to learn in front of a computer screen. Again a quote from the interview:

"Anecdotally, the one skill that does "glue" design together, hand sketching, is slowly eroding. Mainly seen as a quick ideation phase before CAD, this skill should be seen as a way of thinking--combining visual thinking with personal aesthetics" 

To read the interview:  American Design Schools Are a Mess, and Produce Weak Graduates