Don’t castigate, innovate!

Elke B. Bachler
Sep 4, 2018 · 2 min read

When participating in a project in 2011, I was asked how I see the practises innovation, balance, meaning and culture in today’s design. I updated the text a bit, yet here’s my answer:

As I studied innovation management, I am always on the lookout for fresh ideas and upcoming trends. Said that, I am completely with Marty Neumeier who stated: „If you wanna innovate, you gotta design.“

So, there you’ve got your first connection — innovation & design.

What I do recognise while doing research or listening to friends of mine, who are into industrial, web and graphic design, is a certain longing for meaning. Not fame or fortune, but meaning.

To be honest, this perception might be a kind of reflection, because I am choosing my projects using similar criteria:

Change the system when someone or something is suffering,
when it allows for well-being, establish system stability.

Easily said, difficult to do — and I‘d say that is where balance and culture come into play. To accomplish well-being through innovation, a certain mindset, prolific creativity and wholistic thinking are needed.

I guess one reason for this longing is the development — or better: the degeneration — of capitalism. The value of our work is measured in money, and money became a very insecure currency.

Sure, you can still buy groceries and pay your rent with money, but it does not reflect real values anymore. Money became a most virtual good, with rules which seem to be completely decoupled from our biological, physical and finite world (mind that I wrote this in 2011, just after the financial crisis, yet it still holds true).

Take also into account that we do not only need food for our body, but also for our mind and soul. It might be spirituality, religion, beauty, justice, knowledge … whatever you prefer, it is still most evident: We have a craving for meaning and values.

So the question arises: Which values do we regard as important, and why?

In this regard, I think it is most encouraging to see the rise of sustainable design and circular economy. Approaches like Cradle 2 Cradle by Braungart and McDonough are a perfect example.

With smart product design and intelligent services,
nothing is wasted, everything is useful.

Therefore the title of this article — it is not about restriction. It is about a new form of convenience. Closing loops just like nature does, making it possible to enjoy food, clothes, furniture, vehicles, tech gadgets without doing harm but add value is not only possible, it is essential.

A design culture where innovation is based on meaning and balance enables us to do just that.

Original article with infos concerning the design project:
ideentheke.at/innovation-balance-meaning-culture

Elke B. Bachler

Inquisitive mind. ENFJ becoming INFJ. Sagittarius. A bit nerdy. Biomimicry, TRIZ, (web)design & sustainability freak. Creator of the Biognosis Toolbox.

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