Design
February 5, 2009 by Holst Group
Edward De Bono’s Message
Belief systems are very intolerant of ambiguity. At the Renaissance when Greek thinking came into Europe the Church has a great need for ‘truth’ and logical methods to prove this truth. There was no interest in ‘possibilities’ and ‘ambiguities’. This may have held up human development because the future is designed with possibilities. Truth can only describe the past.
From this came the neglect of ‘design’ in education. Yet design is as important as analysis. Design is working with what you have in order to deliver the values you want.
My understanding of theology and the history of theology might be slightly different than that presented in the statement above. The existence of many schools of theology and philosophy within Catholicism is proof of this. Dominicans vs Jesuits vs Franciscans. Franciscan theologians and St Thomas Aquinas argued bitterly about the Redemption/Incarnation. Without any utopian illusions, I think Christianity- not just Catholicism – looked at “working with what you have in order to deliver the values you want” In education St John Bosco was avante garde in instilling a positive mind-set in his students whom society at his time wrote off as incorrigible.
Simply – I couldn’t agree more.
‘Design’ sums up in one word what many struggle to desribe.
People get caught up in non-sensical belief systems and are prevented from reaching inside themselves, from delving better into their imagination.
As a designer, I observe that the issue of the moment is facilitation.
Design nowadays has to be marketted, sold. The best design often fails to materialise. Hence the failing education systems.
Mark – you may want to watch Sir Ken Robinson’s views on education and the lack of thinking, creativity and possibility.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY