Do We Want a Designer Future, and, Do We Want a Designed Future?

Preamble or Postlude to an Open Forum

	This title lends itself to the creation of a certain poetic space – between asking ourselves as to whether we want a future comprising designer products and services, and, do we want a future that is designed for-us by others? There are two different, but interconnected, issues here. Basically, do we want to be branded and badged, and, do we want to be banded together and caged in a world planned for us? (1)
	We live in a ‘rich’ world, i.e., an existentially variegated World-of-Life, a world full of unexpected and unplanned events. A realm of serendipity. Our lives would be the poorer for it if it were to be otherwise. On one hand, people want and demand a certain level of social conformity, if only an adherence to sensible laws and reasonable expectations of habit and custom, and, on the other, a certain level of freedom in order to be ourselves unhindered by unnecessary restrictions and limitations. Imagine a world where our conversation was merely reduced to sheer repetitions of the same formulae. “Good morning… Hello… Thank-you… I shall have one piece of regulation toast… It is raining… I have eaten my standard bowl of tripe… Good night… Good-bye…,” etc. (2)
	Designer products and services are also brands that badge our socio-economic status. Contrived indicators of ‘who we are’. Emblems of our self-appointed status or lack of it, or, by default, even our desire not to participate in this type of consumerist exercise. No point wearing an expensive designer watch if your runners and T-shirt come from a general clothing store. So, now, what branded segment of the population do you wish to belong to… don’t wish to belong to…? (3)
And here lies a second problem. Do we want a planned future where we are slotted into a lifestyle defined for-us by-others? (4)
	However, to turn these objections completely around, we might re-phrase our two questions in the following manner: do we want a well-designed future, and, do we want products and services that are well-designed, are useful, function properly, are appropriate to possess, are aesthetically pleasing…? I am sure we would probably answer “yes” to those two questions. The problem remains, how do we design things for others… and this calls for a democratic response?! (5)
	In a democratically-oriented milieu we find ourselves being represented. Such representation promotes our participation. This style of governance serves us well when it is truly representative, appropriately transparent, effectively regulated and such regulations are properly enforced. Only in this politically open climate can an existentially receptive sense of responsibility be called for and called forth. Only in this atmosphere of responsibility, I believe, can we design a future for-others by-us and find others and ourselves make and consume products in an ethically conducted environment. Today, this type of awareness is of profound importance! (6)
	Realizing that our future must eventually confront the collective wages of our collective sins means that we must direct ourselves towards this democratic direction of being-there-for-others in the ensured hope that they can be-there-for-us. This world is the responsible world of co-design well-designed by-us-for-others and not just design merely designed by-others for-us! A difference that makes a difference! (7)
							           Noël Tointon, Sydney, 7.8.09.