The Tools Exist…

We all have what I like to call “status tools” We proudly display our gadgets and tools, electronic or otherwise. We feel the nature of those tools displays who we are to the outside world. The confident professional always in touch and on the move. The intellectual, calmly stroking the keys of his Macbook pro over a latte at Starbucks. The Toughbook user with a mug of deli coffee on the job site. These are stereotypes that we all too often happily meld into. We’re so happy to engage in the cultural stereotypes that we enthusiastically wait for the next “new thing” that fits our designated persona. The new iPhone, the touch screen blackberry, that shiny Macbook Air.

This could simply be written off as rampant consumerism. The trouble is all too often we do the same thing when it comes to our design practices. As a lighting designer I am constantly interested in the latest toy. Be it a new LED fixture, or a new piece of PreVis software, even the glowing Macbook Pro and iPhone are totems of my gadget fixation. I want to know what the newest tool is and I want to employ it even if it’s not really necessary. What’s worse is our industry fosters this competition, and labels designers as “cutting edge” just because they specify a product that came out in the last twelve months.

You might be wondering “what’s the problem-doesn’t using new tools make for the best design? Wouldn’t we be doing our clients a disservice if we didn’t use the newest tools and latest gear?”

The answer to me lies here, for decades now better ways of designing and building have existed. Brilliant sustainable design existed before PreVis or even AutoCad, yet we clamor for the latest software because IT will make us better designers. If I only had the newest laptop or if the client were only willing to pay for this toy or….

Let’s stop making excuses as a design community and demand from ourselves and for our clients better design work. We can only control that aspect of the business, no other. Manufacturers will always compete to bring us the next best thing. The one thing they can’t replace is our brains.

For more food for thought on rat-race design check this out on the Reuters Earth2Tech blog….