Design Loves a Depression

[BrianKitts]

An interesting article from the New York Times.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/weekinreview/04cannell.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=design%20loves%20a%20depression&st=cse

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

Interesting article, but I think the author is a bit off in several instances. The seem to ignore the vast movement in architecture to make building environmentally responsible, and do so at a lower cost, by designing them to be more efficient in several ways. They seems to be focusing entirely on the star designer that very few of us can afford to have in daily life, instead of focusing on what the majority can attain and afford.

 

The seem to ignore the fact that throw away items such as Ikea furniture are throw away items not necessarily because they are cheaper, but because the are built cheaply. It is not that the design can not stand the test of time, it is that the quality of the item can not stand the test of time.

 

Design can stand a depression because good design is about more than a flashy building, or something that looks cool. Good design is well design, well crafted, well thought out, and is their to benefit us, and make our lives better. Maybe I am just complaining because the article strikes a note that everyone who cares about design is frivolous.