Design Summit Summation 2006

At Delhi airport, I can see the flurry of visitors who cannt be accommodated in the space available. New Aludecor panels are plastered all over. A new lease of life to the old building. A/C is not functioning I guess. CISF personnel are as lethargic as the Delhi police who used to man this place earlier. We have been discussing all that is 'good design experience' for the last two days. I won't say it was a discussion because 'presentations' for 16 hours can leave anybody's senses totally numb. I ran out of the last session where the panel was discussing about education on design. The narcissistic muses on design, the ominipotent remedy to all our maladies was once again the voice at this session too. Overall focus is shifting on 'design research' that was brought out by Motorola, LG (our casestudy), Intel and many others (including Ranjan Ranjan and Ranjan) also shared the views. Speed, scalability, emerging markets, collaboration, empowerment, design that can solve problems which affects and touches millions (i.e. Sam Pitorda's reference to telecom revolution, India centric solutions) and contextuality were some of the topics touched upon on the second day. Design agencies all seem to be putting across a very open and mature face of design. They all share the same woes still besides being very upbeat on the market. Difficulty in recruiting good designers, NID training very elitist designers, enjoying 'strategy' upgrade, managing large teams etc.were some common concerns that were voice by them. They even discussed how difficult it is to employ a foirgn designer in India (I wanted Karl to stand up and make a point there).

IDEO's presentation was nice and worthy of being elevated yet simple. However one can feel that even IDEO being IDEO is clueless on the next important role they are going to play in the world (or world of design). Will Reymond Lowey kind of design-equity would ever be back in the world? No one seem to know the answer, even if IDIOM is boldly proclaiming this on the bags gifted to all the participants.

And while I am writing this, I get to hear that the flight is delayed. Design is not about products or services ...it is supposed to graduate to 'design of a business'. I am wondering at the alternative services in India whose sole USP would be 100% on time, but would charge heavy premium.....any takers?

More when I gt the next brainwave...