Design Prophecy & Occasional Reflections
A Design Genetic Perspective on...everything.
Obamas change will be difficult
Sometimes change will require drastic measures to break up a linear and bound system in order to create a new system, that still may maintain some linearity but a different one. Barack Obama seem to try the middle way and slowly move people’s minds away from the neo-conservative mind set, which is the root of their Bound and Rational Personality. He might succeed and he might fail. The linearity in USA is strong and so is the Outward Force in their personality making them act first and think later. They have strong force of Movement coming from strong Emotions and they are creative by the combination of Movement and the Outward force. But it’s not that easy to make changes that will last when their Rational side is so hard to change. There is a risk Obama will get stuck within the linear system.
The most disturbing proof of that is the question of what really happened 9/11 seems to remain a hidden question. A new investigation would mean a lot. Many things indicate that elements within the US administration was involved. If that is the case a public awareness of that fact, domestically and internationally, would mean a lot for their own self-perception and their ability to grow consciously and become more balanced between the Free and Bound Force. There might be some resulting turmoil but secrets can’t be kept inside the soul without consequences. It would mean a lot for the world. 9/11 is the knot keeping change from really happening. We have always been able to count on their strong optimism and ability to rise when they really need to. Let's hope this will be the case once again starting with the truth of the traumatic even of 9/11.
PC is getting it
The PC guy from the Apple commercials seems to get it. PC Hardware are becoming more and more design oriented. It's so obvious when a company have understood design even in a small way. ASUS is one of those that seem to have understood it, the Apple way. This is one example, the new Asus Aspire Revo. Leaving the stiffness for more soft values in their product design can be one of the reasons it has gone so well one the market. Design evokes emotions and by that becomes more human. And that sells. Like the smoothness in the slightly curved line holding the power switch, and movement coming from the interesting contrast in the soft line and the linear and slightly harsh joining between the black and white area in Aspire Revo. The only problem is that it doesn't come with Mac OS X. I would like to have that opportunity (not a Hackingtosh).
So balanced.
The other day Apple revealed the new iPhone OS 3.0. I'm a Mac user since a long time, but I'm also into Windows XP, tried Windows 7, and Linux Ubuntu. I must say that Apple does things so right. Everything works so smooth. They are able to balance a linear and rigid thinking, like programming can be, with a very emotional smoothness that goes all the way from the machine via the software to me as a user, a human. They are innovative and free, but at the same time very practical. People that doesn't like Apple often claim that they are too design oriented and forget functionality. I don't see that. I see how they put humans in the center. It's all about usability, and that's functionality at its best.
Life can't be controlled
According to a new study at Stanford and Nortwestern University and London Business School people with power can easily believe they have more control over things than what is the case. I don't think this is unique. Leadership have always been the home-ground for rational and linear people and they often think life is predictable, can be calculated, and hence, controlled. That is not the reality. Some things can be controlled while others can't. That's the nature of nature.
Power and the Illusion of Control
Big or small?
Being big means you are likely to focus on the outside world. It doesn’t necessary has to be literally big. It can also be a question of taking your space, marking your territory. You will definitely notice when a “big” person enters a room.
Smallness is the opposite. He or she will be focused on the internal world. It’s a quiet person that doesn’t want to be noticed. In any given situation he or she will likely take as little space as possible.
A focus on the outside or the inside of oneself is a matter of direction. A company who is focused outward will probably want to grow and become bigger. This also has some benefits and problems. They will be more creative and have a speed in their innovation processes that match their desires. On the other hand it might miss out on details and behave by the motto “act first, think later”.
A small company focused inward is likely to keep it’s form for a long time and not be so creative. At least not a creativity that is transformed into action, products, and services. Their strong side is their ability to focus on internal processes and being attentive to details.
USA is a good example for this visual detail in Design Genetics. Big has always been an important factor in certain parts of american politics and business culture. They’ve created big cars, big cities, a big military, big companies, and they are a big themselves as a country.
