There are two topics that I’ve been hearing about frequently, and I’m fascinated by the different ways we’re handling them. The first is design as empathy, and the second is information overload. Susan Szenasy discussed both of these in her talk at the Urban Institute of Contemporary Art in Grand Rapids, on Friday, May 9.
I love the idea of design as communication. Not communication design, that’s a separate category, but design as the means of sending a message. Designing for someone, and focusing on that connection. The thing you’re designing isn’t going to connect with everyone, but it will connect with some people in a deep way, and that’s what matters. Szenasy mentioned a class that she taught, in which only a few people spoke up, but had really quality input on the topic. “In connecting with those few people, you create a dialogue that everyone benefits from.”
I think those ideas have a huge effect on the built world. It’s this widened empathy and appreciation that occurs, with users thinking “somebody thought of me as a creature who likes beautiful things. Thank you.” I think that widened empathy and thoughtfulness is powerful — it has the power to change and improve the world we live in.
The second topic, information overload, feels particularly relevant to my life. Right now, I have fourteen tabs open in Chrome, one with a podcast playing, Scrivener open with a short story that I’m working on revising, and a text document open with my notes from Szenasy’s talk. I switch constantly between twitter and tumblr and fifteen million other things I’m working on. As Szenasy asked, “when do we slow down and pay attention?”
However, Szenasy isn’t against social media. She likes the way it allows people to share the things they’re interested in, the things they’re looking at right now. “I love all social media that puts an idea out and allows you to click further.” She said “All the media is fabulous, the way we use it has to be smarter,” an idea with which I fully agree.
I think those ideas have a huge effect on the built world. It’s this widened empathy and appreciation that occurs, with users thinking “somebody thought of me as a creature who likes beautiful things. Thank you.” I think that widened empathy and thoughtfulness is powerful — it has the power to change and improve the world we live in.
The second topic, information overload, feels particularly relevant to my life. Right now, I have fourteen tabs open in Chrome, one with a podcast playing, Scrivener open with a short story that I’m working on revising, and a text document open with my notes from Szenasy’s talk. I switch constantly between twitter and tumblr and fifteen million other things I’m working on. As Szenasy asked, “when do we slow down and pay attention?”
However, Szenasy isn’t against social media. She likes the way it allows people to share the things they’re interested in, the things they’re looking at right now. “I love all social media that puts an idea out and allows you to click further.” She said “All the media is fabulous, the way we use it has to be smarter,” an idea with which I fully agree.
Sometimes, “we have to say “I stop here and pick up a book.””
I think that’s going to be a question that people ask more and more, as we keep moving faster and becomes more integrated in our lives. I’m interested to see how people will handle that differently — will it become popular to have a phone-free weekend retreat? Will we occasionally take a few weeks off social media? How many people will fully embrace the constantly-connected lifestyle?
On that note, I’m off to read a book in the park.
On that note, I’m off to read a book in the park.
Here’s a post from the Metropolis POV blog about Szenasy’s book, and if you’re interested in purchasing it, you can do so here.