Stimulating debate in design.
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24 MAR 2008: What does a greying world mean for innovation?
Is the notion of “grey” design a crude concept that’s condescending to older people? An increasing proportion of over 55s in the west gives opportunities for more products to help overcome declining physical abilities – but is the real opportunity in better ways of navigating and using products for all of us?
Aren’t these the differentiators that motivate people of all ages all to desire them? Clumsy big buttons on "old person's" telephone, is perhaps the most obvious example of treating the grey generation as daft. Isn’t useable design for everyone?
- Alistair
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Added 30th March 2008, 18:06 GMT:
Having read your entry, I have to say that although there is somewhat of a generalisation among many design circles that older generations are less capable of operating today's technologies than their younger (often pre-pubescent) counterparts, there is some truth to their pre-conceptions. It is well-known that older people tend to be better at operating products or machines that require experience than younger people - driving a car is a good example - but younger people are better when it comes to absorbing new information and putting it into practise - determining the hundreds of new functions on a high-spec mobile phone, for example.
I have often had to consult my teenage son in order to use one of the many remote controls we have to operate our television, vcr and hi-fi. I simply can't read the annoyingly tiny labels next to the buttons, much to the amusement of the rest of the family. That being said, he is a godawful driver, and the car has had much repair work done on it to prove it!
- Mr. G Bakewell, Milton Keynes, UK
12 MAR 2008: Are we too lazy to recycle?
Recycling is big news and big business. We think the solutions delivered by some UK local authorities are driven by a desire to "tick the right boxes" rather than driven by consumers needs.
Many towns and cities of our world are becoming a parking lot for big recycling wheely bins and plastic boxes. One of our team has 5 full size bins! Is the massive use of materials and energy creating bins and collecting the waste really the most effective way of dealing with our trash?
- Alistair
09 MAR 2008: Is UK design education good value?
We’re not convinced, was the message from several participants at the recent Design 20:20 workshop, investigating the future of the UK design business.
One South African designer envisioned a UK design industry employing significantly more design talent from overseas in future – simply because the quality of foreign applicants is better.
The evidence in Lucid’s inbox does support the view. We receive hundreds of job applicants annually, primarily from recent graduates. Amongst them are visually stunning presentations, showing depth of technical understanding and excellent communication skills. The outstanding candidates stick in the memory easily – Chinese, German, American, Indian, French and very, very few British. Why is this the case?
- Alistair
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Added 12th March 2008, 13:22 GMT:
In the past year I have had 3 chance conversations with recent product design graduates. One called me trying to sell mobile phones, another was a barman and the last had been temping as data input clerk for a year. Transferable skills in action, I think not, rampant over-supply by Universities and disappointed graduate customers is more like it.
- Mr. M. Khan, West Sussex, UK
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