A recent History Fair project grabbed my attention with the quality of work put in by a high school group in the competition. What stopped me was the nice formatting and presentation on a subject that I have listened to relatives speak on. I won't go into a debate on Frank's design results as I would have to listen to one of my cousins pontificate at length about his works. (I know I pontificate a lot myself but it is my blog.) Besides I am partial to Johnny Ive more than Frank.
What caught my eye was the thought that we aren't teaching or developing any talent for design. Schools are so fact and test based that we aren't teaching a student to harness creativity and put it to use. I realize I am surrounded by art and engineering students all day however neither group is coming together to recognize what could make the difference in their success versus the mundane.
Frank Lloyd Wright, Johnny Ive and others have come to realize that functionally engineered items do not win the hearts and minds of individuals. We are human we want to feel special so therefore we take the time to seek out the special. The engineers in the school build and replicate some awesome projects. However they are often copying others ideas or designs.
The artists are being extraordinarily creative but their art is not functional for the most part. Decorative can only go so far. If teachers could get the two together to learn how to unlock creativity in an engineer and the practical in the artist we will have tapped into the design genius that Frank Lloyd created.
Imagine Frank Lloyd Wright with a 3D printer. I am watching engineering students crank out gears, college logos, and other small potato ideas. I would like to see them study great designers and see what they can do with this new technology. You had better believe Johnny is using them to rake in the dough over at Apple. Frank Lloyd would have blown our minds away with what is possible.
In the meantime be on the look out for that student who could be the next great designer. We need better form and function in our lives. Lets stop testing them over facts that our legislatures want to debate and change every election cycle. Lets let our students get back to work learning ideas, concepts and philosophies that can spur imagination and creativity. Our schools used to be very good at it. Time to remember why were successful then and not now.
What caught my eye was the thought that we aren't teaching or developing any talent for design. Schools are so fact and test based that we aren't teaching a student to harness creativity and put it to use. I realize I am surrounded by art and engineering students all day however neither group is coming together to recognize what could make the difference in their success versus the mundane.
Frank Lloyd Wright, Johnny Ive and others have come to realize that functionally engineered items do not win the hearts and minds of individuals. We are human we want to feel special so therefore we take the time to seek out the special. The engineers in the school build and replicate some awesome projects. However they are often copying others ideas or designs.
The artists are being extraordinarily creative but their art is not functional for the most part. Decorative can only go so far. If teachers could get the two together to learn how to unlock creativity in an engineer and the practical in the artist we will have tapped into the design genius that Frank Lloyd created.
Imagine Frank Lloyd Wright with a 3D printer. I am watching engineering students crank out gears, college logos, and other small potato ideas. I would like to see them study great designers and see what they can do with this new technology. You had better believe Johnny is using them to rake in the dough over at Apple. Frank Lloyd would have blown our minds away with what is possible.
In the meantime be on the look out for that student who could be the next great designer. We need better form and function in our lives. Lets stop testing them over facts that our legislatures want to debate and change every election cycle. Lets let our students get back to work learning ideas, concepts and philosophies that can spur imagination and creativity. Our schools used to be very good at it. Time to remember why were successful then and not now.