Episode 119: Soldiers and Generals

This week, Michael and Jessica discuss Don Norman’s recent article in Fast Company about the one skill designers need to develop most in 2020: the ability to collaborate with one another and with others disciplines. Jessica says that the thing that

got my knickers in a twist… was that he says — and I’m going to quote: “We can’t put all the blame on designers. They are the soldiers, not the generals.” Now, this to me was like saying we are the dental hygienists, not the brain surgeons…

It’s not about education — it’s about power.

It’s not about training — it’s about decision making.

Also mentioned (and heard) this week:

• Kyle Chayka, The Verge, Welcome to AirSpace: How Silicon Valley helps spread the same sterile aesthetic across the world
• Kyle Chayka, The Longing for Less: Living with Minimalism
• Jennifer Szalai, New York Times, ‘The Longing for Less’ Gets at the Big Appeal of Minimalism
• Karrie Jacobs, Dwell, The Fruit Bowl Manifesto (2000)
• YouTube, In Studio With: Massimo Vignelli
• Hugh Weber
• YouTube, d.school Bootcamp: The Student Experience
• Katharine Schwab, Fast Company, John Maeda: “In reality, design is not that important”
• Maggie Gram, n+1, On Design Thinking
• Puddles Pity Party, In the End  
• The Estate of Mr. Peanut (@mrpeanut), The death of Mr. Peanut
• Planters, Mr. Peanut Through the Years
• Molly Roberts, Washington Post, Mr. Peanut Had to Die
• The Huntington Library, Fanchon & Marco, Volume 2

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