Design education is not only going to develop design- ers for the future but this subject can also develop a new generation of young people who understand what good design is. Aſter all, you should decide what you like and what you don’t like. So it really depends on how the product looks and if it really works well and provides you with what you need. For instance, if you have a choice you won’t buy a cell phone that looks ugly and doesn’t work properly. Terefore, you as the consumer play a very important role. Each business investigates their customers’ likes and dislikes so that they can design for them. If the customer does not have an understanding of good design, they will not be bothered with better products and, in turn, the business will not be forced to grow and develop bet- ter products. You as the consumer will be that business’ target market.
Although not all of you will eventually follow a career path in design, you will be equipped with vital life skills that you can use in all your other subjects, your private lives and one day in your place of work no matter which career path you eventually choose. Te skills that you will learn through taking design as a subject will teach you how to solve problems, how to investigate and gather information, how to be creative and innovative, how to become an en- trepreneur, how to communicate your ideas successfully and you will learn more about people and their behaviour (the different tar- get markets you will design for), just to men- tion a few of the benefits. So at the end of the day it does not really matter which career path you will follow, but I know that you will agree that it would be pretty cool to already have all these skills in place so that you can improve yourself and become better at what you do in the future.
Most people do not understand what design is. Tey think design is something for rich people, that it is expensive and just used to make things pretty but they forget that design can also be used to solve pro- blems and provide for people who really need care and assistance on a daily basis. Design really can make a difference in people’s lives. People also don’t understand that specific products can actually add to the economy of our country, employ and help a lot of people. Creative thinking can also help to develop a more sustainable world that consist out of more re- sponsible consumers, businessess and environments. Tere are always a more sustainable option for every dicision we make. Architecture and engineering are
also examples of design but there are people who don’t think this is true. We all know that science and technology have always been identified as high priorities in our educa- tion system – “the answer to a better future”. A lot of people don’t think that design, technology and science can work successfully together; and they should if we really want to make a difference and design top-quality products that we can export to other countries. Design should be an important part. If you think about it, all processes in technology and science should be driven by the design process where people use skills like creative thinking, innovative and original ideas and problem-solving skills. In fact, a strong relationship between design, technology, science and mathematics can only develop you into a better student and will definitely make a difference later in your life.
Design is therefore definitely not a subject that should only be taken by students who cannot do mathema- tics or science. Tis subject is not a “soſt option” and can really challenge all kinds of learners. Tis is not an easy option and can prepare you for further studies
in engineering, architecture, industrial
design and other related studies. Even the automobile industry (designing of cars) includes a lot of creativity and design.
Te beauty of the subject of design is that it allows for all learners to be successful, no matter what your culture or even physical disabilities are. It will all depend on the individual learner and what you de- cide to make of this opportunity.
Since design impacts on our daily lives and improves our life standards on a daily basis, it has been proven to form a very important part of all cultures in a civilized society. We can therefore say with confi- dence: design is not a luxury! It is a necessity!
We always refer to South Africa as a land of possibili- ties. Let’s grab these possibilities with open arms and grow all opportunities into realities. Let us give you the power through creativity to make the difference in years to come so that we can all work together to build a better South Africa for all.
Suné Stassen Creative Consultant and Design Activist
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