Emphasising design that truly matter
MAXMATTER is the manifesto of Max Bessone, a freelance graphic designer in Wellington New Zealand. This is a summary of the values that drive him to do best, as designer and human.
Head meets heart
I really believe that to be a designer is a social responsibility.
In today’s modern world, we live in a place where our everyday objects, experiences, desires, emotions and way of leaving are “designed” by professionals with the intent of improve our quality life.
As designers, it is important to realise that our profession is a social activity. By its very nature, it affect a lot of people, and with this comes responsibility.
Designers have more power to influence than they could imagine. They get trained for years on rhetorical communication, which is primarily based on the study of influence others. So, if we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem.
But how should designers embrace this social responsible role?
Thoughtfulness.
Thoughtful design is what makes a product “great” and last for generation to come. Thoughtfulness is a quality that comes from the heart with the best of intentions in mind. In order to be thoughtful, designers need to develop empathy. Set themselves aside their own assumption of the world in order to gain insight into their users needs.
My mission as designer is to help communities to embrace a human-centered design framework to solve real users’ problems. Because when we have access to thoughtful products, we become better humans.
Beautiful vs Functional
Too often in the community the interest of design lies in the form, not the function.
I struggled for years thinking what ‘good design is’.
Is it maybe a beautiful creation? And who decide what’s ‘beautiful’? Is it not ‘beautiful’ something subjective?
HOW SOMETHING APPEARS IS ALWAYS A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE.
Designers create value by exploring without limitation through the psyche and psychology of consumers. They see the world through different eyes and explore what should be as opposed to what is. They show discipline in doing more with less.
By combining forces, they can create new business opportunities and the pathways to manifest consumer needs, emotions, and aspirations.
Thinking of an ever evolving world
Human needs fundamentally don’t change. The ways we address them do.
Consider this: we’re still improving the way we get from Point A to Point B. Yesterday’s horse-drawn carriage was a prototype for today’s automobile. Today’s automobile is just another prototype for tomorrow’s transportation breakthrough. The problem is defined by a fundamental human need: getting from A to B. The solution at any point in time, is situated in the constraints and affordances of the era: technological advancements, evolving resources, changing consumer expectations.
Fundamentally, there will always be a better solution just around the corner.
If we recognise that from the perspective of our users, no solution is perfect, every project can be treated as a prototype. How we develop it, will make the difference. Blending intelligent creativity with a sincere collaborative approach, to:
Solve old problems in a new way
In the 21st Century, design can be used responsibly as a powerful tool to change human behavior for a preferable future. Learnings about bias in decision-making and the complexities of behavior change is knowledge that must be incorporated when we embark on design challenges. Fields such as cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and anthropology are great resources for discovering human behaviors and should be integrated into the design process.
Understand the present to envision the future
If research is the discipline of understanding the world, design is the discipline of shaping it. While research asks “what is?” design asks “what should be?” Design problems are problems with no predetermined solution. They are questions with no right answer. Embracing three simple steps as model for action, can help during the design thinking process.
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OBSERVE -
REFLECTReflecting brings people together to synchronise the movements and synthesise what has been learned. It requires the empathy to understand diverse prospectives, the flexibility to respond to change and the integrity to stay true on the values. But also to be honest about what you know and be open to what you hear, positive and negative.
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MAKEGive concrete form to ideas in order to explore possibilities, communicate new solutions, prototype concepts, and drive real-world outcomes. The earlier we make, the faster we learn so don’t wait until an idea is perfect, it won’t happen.
Audacity is the boost that puts an idea into the world. We might be wrong, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Differentiation through diversity
Teams of diverse people, see the same problem from many angles.
Consider the last time someone disagreed with you. Did you listen to understand their argument, or did you listen to poke holes in it? Did you explore the underlying reasons behind their point of view, or did you seek reinforcement from others who shared yours? Diversity invites conflict, and conflict should be a wellspring of creativity.
I’m a passionate italian designer, in New Zealand. My diversity is an unique perspective that I bring into every project, widening the range of possible outcomes.
Ideas come from a deep understanding of the real-world problems. This understanding isn’t gained by staying set at the desk, instead by getting out of the building and meeting the users we are trying to solve the problem to. Understand their context, uncover hidden needs and hear their honest and unfettered feedback, helps to design a better product. Understanding can not be delegated.