Design 2016: Change

Change:  ‘to make the form, nature, content, future course of something different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone’.  Not necessarily a profound word on the surface, but one that can have far-reaching consequences.  In the world of design, change is to be embraced.  New visions, fresh palates, the latest technology, all pique the interest of the client, and drive the desire for change.  For the designer, keeping abreast of currently changing trends is essential, providing stock-in-trade for business.

In 2016 the internet has made a profound change in how the design world works.  Accessing new ideas and products, presented, cataloged, and formatted, is at the client’s fingertips.  The designer, too, can use these tools as a valuable asset to help communicate ideas and translate the client’s vision into reality.  What remains unchanged is the value of the experience and expertise of the individual designer – bringing all the facets of any given project together, along with the intangibles:  the vision for the entire project (large or small), including the setting of the project, the personality and comfort level of the client, and the nuances and light bulb moments human interaction and communication can bring.

Change….rapid change, is an integral part of the world in which we live.  To resist is to be left behind, comfortable perhaps, but not on the cutting edge.  To embrace change means integrating new ideas and methods, while incorporating traditionally vital elements of the process of design.