Building on the past and designing the future
- By Eugene Clark
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E-mail China.org.cn, July 23, 2015
Other creative work is also being done with shipping containers. In China, for example, one can order shipping container homes on Alibaba.com. Shipping container architecture takes advantage of the inherent strength of such containers, their uniform size, wide availability, flexibility and comparative less environmental impact compared to traditional construction materials such as bricks and concrete.
Another creative use of space involves going underground. China is a leader in the use of below-ground space. Such space is ideal for food storage, involves less energy costs, saves on building materials and frees space for agricultural use.
These developments in the renewed use of space point to the increasingly important role played by design in our cities, in our businesses, in governments and in our daily lives.
Looking beyond physical space to other areas of human activity, a renewed focus on design is increasingly important for all areas of human activity. Educational institutions should include elements of better design in all of their courses. For example, law schools should seek to have their students understand how better designed laws, both nationally and internationally, are vital if we are to weave a rule of law fabric that will better fit a 21st century world that is much more connected and intertwined. Business leaders need to focus on business, product and service delivery design as a major source of competitive advantage -- something that Apple has mastered. Government leaders must think about great design as we reshape the institutions that served the Industrial Age and move to a new paradigm suitable for a 21st century Information Age.
In searching for the best design it is important to have a deep understanding of the past as opposed to rushing into the assumption that "new" is always better. For example, educators are now coming to appreciate more deeply the important role played by music, hand-craft and memorization which were critical components of primary school education for hundreds of years.
So, whether we are talking about conversion of old spaces to new uses, re-conceptualizing new institutions, building new business models or devising better forms of government, great design plays an important role in preserving the past, serving as a source of innovation in the present and enabling us to create a better life for the future. As Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake concluded: "Design is not for philosophy, it's for life."
The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:
http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/eugeneclark.htm
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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