eq·ui·ty: noun
the quality of being fair and impartial.
"equity of treatment"
"A designer is anyone who has agency to make a decision, however
small, that will impact a group of people or the environment. Every
decision we make has an impact on equity."
small, that will impact a group of people or the environment. Every
decision we make has an impact on equity."
This past semester has been primarily centered around practical world issues and how to solve them - the majority of my projects have been more like inventions rather than the typical design piece. Before this semester, I definitely viewed design as something that was beautiful and engaging, because after all, I am enrolled in an art school. But, readings like this one have changed my mind and truly opened up a new faucet to design, one that feels over my head.
These design methods can be applied to many real-world scenarios that can be incredibly impactful and moving. This idea of equity - of being fair and inclusive - is one that can and should be applied to all fields of work.
This reading had me a bit hung up for a moment. If anyone is considered a designer, why am I here studying design? Don't engineers who dedicate their lives to education design? That is completely different that what I am studying. Engineers are what make the world go round!
Here is the thing that I refused to believe: designers make the world go round, too. Designers are in this new age of considering all sides of the narrative and committing their designs to serve the people. Of course, engineers manufacture bridges that allow millions of tons of pounds to travel, but designers are building the systems in which we use in our everyday lives.
It is hard to imagine all the design that is all around me. I think often of all the little things - the light bulb that I am using at my desk, a designer had a part in that. So many mundane things are backed my designers, designers who consider the user and the outcome. Thinking about all of the different ways that design is used is overwhelming and honestly, makes me lose my sense of specialness as an artist. But, without designers, humanity would be falling apart at the seams.