“If design is a continent and its disciplines tectonic plates, we live in seismic times;”
So begins Kevin McCullagh’s article on Core77 titled Riding The Flux: Design is changing in myriad ways. Are you? It’s not every day I stumble across an article about design with an opening sentence that grabs my attention like that. This article is good. Read it.
In it, the reminds us that the design industry has always been in a state of flux and explores recent changes in the design industry as a parallel to the many head-spinning changes in the world around us. His advice for those of us who want to be relevant and employed in 10 years?
“Be very, very good, or be ahead of the curve in finding new work that employers and clients will pay for. Or preferably, be both.”
The writer offers up some good examples of intangible assets that successful designers tend to share: interpretation, tangibility, synthesis and resolution. He then goes further to offer suggestions for designers who want to map out future opportunities by employing what he calls “flux riding strategies,” such as adopting an agile perspective, spotting gaps, making new connections and teaching yourself.
The article is smart and succinct, ending on an encouraging note about the future and what we can make of it as designers. [kudos Michael Surtees for the tip]
Posted by Mark Busse
Tags: change, core77, Design, flux, kevin-mcCullagh
