NYTimes.com: What do the following have in common? A bucket made out of a basketball? The programming code for a computer virus? An inexpensive prosthetic leg? The logistical plan for a political protest in Cairo? A barcode illustrating a gorilla’s DNA? A cramped metal cage converted into a makeshift home?
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Can Anybody Be a Designer?
NYTimes.com: What do the following have in common? A bucket made out of a basketball? The programming code for a computer virus? An inexpensive prosthetic leg? The logistical plan for a political protest in Cairo? A barcode illustrating a gorilla’s DNA? A cramped metal cage converted into a makeshift home?
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So I'm a little reluctant to agree that anybody can be a designer considering we're paying around $200,000 to earn that title. I do think that you need to be specifically educated in your field in order to be a very innovative designer. However I think it is true that anybody can be a designer, in the sense that anyone who is creating a new product is a designer. To me this article is just arguing that we apply that name to people who are already "designing" things, whether they be scientists or programmers or visual artists.
So can anybody be a designer? I am not sure that this article comes to any conclusion on the matter. My opinion is that yes anybody can be a designer, but few can be good designers. Just like anyone can write, but few can be good writers. Rarely do you hear about a dentist who writes a great thriller novel. It does happen, but these cases are rare. Designers just like writers have some sort of training. They study the craft for years; their thoughts revolve around the design. And eventually they create designs. This all goes back to the philosophical debate, "what is art?"
I agree with the two previous comments. I am really not sure that ANYONE can be a designer. I'm sure there are plenty of jobs where you have to be innovative and think similarly to a designer but there is something more to a designer, I feel. The article isn't really arguing it's point but stating a bunch of facts as to how the word "designer" originated and how they were interpreted over time.
The idea of a designer is complex, and it would take a while to come up with one single definition. But really, in the end it is a matter of how good a designer and the design is and not so much the title that they acquire. A designer can really be anyone, trained or not, and the final product receives the judgement not the name to begin with. THere are many people that sprout out of the blue and have amazing and innovative work that never got the title, "designer".
I do think that everyone can be a designer. I agree that not everyone is a grate designer. I think the only difference is what they design. You can argue that in a way everything is designed. Just like in the artical designing can mean to plan, create, and to describe. Everybody in one form or another creates, or plans, or describes. Its just depends on your prospective of things.
I think the agreement here is that yes, anybody can be a designer, if they have the right amount of talent and skills. The question seems to remain how people should go about earning this title- school, experience, job title? I'm sure there are many people in this world who consider themselves designers in a field that nobody equates to the concept of design, and the truth is that there is no set rule for what makes you a designer and what doesn't. In a class the other day we were discussing how in an equity theatre house, the term Stage Manager only applies to an *equity* stage manager, and other similar, non equity roles are referred to as Production Assistants. As far as design is concerned, however, I'm not sure that we ever get that distinction. Are we not allowed to call someone a designer because they're not in a certain union? Should this even be a goal of ours, or is it a good thing that the idea of a designer is as loose and flowing as we hope that their designs will be.
This article, as Taylor said, doesn't really answer its own question. It basically tells us that ordinary people design things in their every day lives. This is true, but does this fact mean that everyone is a "designer"? No, not when looking at the word designer as a title that indicates experience, education, and purpose, which is sort of what Reilly hinted at in her comment. I'm in a design class right now, and I just designed a mask. Do I feel that this makes me a designer? No. I think we are all designers in the small scales of our everyday lives, but to be called a designer implies that one designs on a broader scale, that one designs things for specific reasons and with specific intentions. I feel myself wanting to say the same thing over and over again here, because this is such a cyclical and open-ended debate. In the end, yes, I design things, but no, I'm not a designer.
Sadly, I want to say that yes, anybody can be a designer. However that doesn't mean that you are a talented or trained designer which, in response to Reilly's comment, is why we're paying so much to go to school to earn the title as a designer. Someone with a plunger can be a plumber but learning the technicalities of being a plumber, having the plumber work experiences, and having other plumbers reference you is what MAKES you a plumber. When I was questioning whether I wanted an education in design, I considered the concept of being a designer with the abilities that I had from just experience and years of training from work related situations. But I didn't feel prepared enough technically to be considered a designer professionally. And I know that they work that I've put in to an education will on its own make me more of a developed designer.
A frustrating article that talks us on a walk around the block then drops us off at our front door without a goodnight kiss. I would have liked the author to end with a point of view, instead of:"Not necessarily, but maybe." Cool work, bro. Maybe the editor didn't give this enough review, especially in regards to that basketball. If everyone were labeled a designer, then the term would be meaningless. Yes, I feel that everyone can "design" but if we call everyone a designer everytime they do something creative... then we need a new label for the rest of us...
Yes, anybody can be a designer. If someone has an idea, they have the potential to be a designer. I don't really understand the special and hoity-toity aura that people get when they say that they are a "designer". Anybody can design something if they have an idea. That doesn't mean that everyone will like someone's idea, but so what? The same happens with official, pronounced "designers".
I think this exhibit is a great idea. It just shows that nobody is more important than somebody else. Anybody can create art.
What a loaded question! When I'm given an assignment and totally free rein at college to "design" a project, I may design without benefit of any actual education, mentoring or interference. So I would have to say anyone could be a designer. We've all done that "wing it" sort of design. In this case, I'm learning by trial and error. So I know, from experience, anyone can be a designer, but not everyone can be an EMPLOYED designer. That is why I decided to sacrifice to pay for college. I remind myself of that daily. I hope to take some of the trail and error out of the real world even if I have to put that trial and error in a school situation. I hope to find mentors who can guide me without interfering with my creativity. It's a tough line to walk. If I have a mentor, when does it become the mentor's design instead of my own? Even discussing what is a GOOD designer is questionable. There are many employed and celebrated designers who I personally think produce less than innovative work. Others produce innovative, but impractical work. Finally there will always be teachers and directors and audience members who think my design decisions are less than perfect.So be it. That is the nature of design. It is subjective. It will always be subjective and the only real measurement is the money in the bank and the people who love your designs. Everything else is superfluous.
Well, first off I'd like to say that you are not paying $200,000 to "earn" the title of designer. You are paying $200,000 in order to hone your skills and learn what makes a skilled designer. That does not automatically make you a good designer. You could go through this program and potentially come out of it without earning the right to be called a professional designer. But on the other hand, whether someone is a designer or not is a very subjective question. I don't think there is a right or a wrong answer to it. Everyone is going to consider 'design' to be something different for them personally.
I agree that anyone can be a designer. Being a designer essentially means you can think of ideas. I understand that we are paying a lot of money to learn design, but we are learning a very specific type of design. And a part of what we learn is how to materialize our designs and also how to succeed in the industry. We don't sit around and think of cool ideas all day. Now that would be a waste of money.
Yes anybody can be a designer, but you do not just want anybody to design for you. I have worked in theatre for most of my adult life and have been responsible e to build many wonderful sets. Some folks now assume that since I can build stuff and I should also be able to design as well, and I can, but they are just not very good. And it is clear when you look at my drawings. Conversely, I know people who have never been to design school a day in their lives and they have wonderful ideas. True designers have gift for perception and re-creation. It is not as simple as it would seem.
Sure, I guess you can say that anybody can be a designer, but that's a huge oversimplification. I might grant that everybody can be a designer and that there are parts of design that are "instinctive", but there are far fewer who are GOOD designers. Why do they offer Design (Set, Lighting, Communication, etc.) as a major in college? So you can perfect your craft and gain a disciplined awareness of how to solve design problems.
Also, the article mentioned hackers? How does design and hacking influence each other? Could someone explain this to me?
I don't know of anyone can be a designer, but I do believe that anyone can design things. I think that some of the best ideas might come out of people who don't consider themselves designers, because they don't necessarily have the same stress to design something that comes with design being your job. I don't think that going to school is what would necessarily make you the best designer, but I do think that experience is what makes someone a good designer. Just like everything else we do, practice makes perfect!
I think that technically anyone can design something. However, having the skills to design something innovative, improved, beautiful, and interesting is a different matter. Being referred to as a "designer" implies that the individual has these qualities, which I think its where the confusion lies.
Similarly, anyone can be an artist, but it takes training and talent to make art that is inspiring, moving, beautiful, shocking, etc.
This article kind of goes in circles. I wish it had gone into more detail about the "Unnamed" exhibit it kept referencing, because that sounded interesting.
Anyone can design...
However, this does not mean that everyone can do the job of being a designer. The skills associated with each type of design are varied as the skills associated with being a different type of doctor. Therefore, although anyone could effectively design, they may not be able to complete the tasks associated with communicating that design to others.
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