The New Designers In A New World – Part One

The global use of information and communication technology is growing at an unprecedented rate. We can now share and consume text-based, audio, and video data with more people and in more ways than ever before in the history of humanity.

The long-term impact of this massive global technological expansion is still unclear. Some describe the technological innovations we are witnessing as “disruptive.” They result in the generation of new organizations that were impossible before. They can also lead to an organization’s failure. We see radical transformation in many organizations, including government entities, Fortune 500 companies, universities, hospitals, and small businesses. Organizations of all sizes and types struggle to understand the transformational effect this technology is having. No one is exempt.

This massive transformation has also generated new industries, careers, and work environments. The role of “traditional” designers has changed as well. A substantial communication gap has developed between the design and non-design professions during this phenomenal expansion of innovation and technology. This dissonance hinders progress, interaction, and collaboration on all fronts.

This series of articles aims to develop a deeper understanding of design as it fits into this new world we are creating with today’s information and communication technology. This research will help others with appropriate design principles and think more thoroughly about whether they consider themselves in the design profession. Further, the findings from this research will facilitate more effective communication and interaction regarding the role of design within the overall goals and objectives of organizations of all types and sizes.