Norman on ‘To Create a Better Society’

Don Norman’s latest piece ‘To Create a Better Society’ has me rather torn.

First, I worry about the view that designers should be the leaders on social problems. We can/should engage with these issues, but respectfully and collaboratively. We don’t need Republic-esque designer-philosopher-kings. Facilitation yes, domination no. I’m sure this is not Norman’s intent, but some of the language is IMO too strong.

Second, and more seriously, Norman has been hostile to people pushing some of these very ideas in recent years. They deserve credit for handling his attacks with dignity and (whether he appreciates it or not) ultimately shifting his perspectives.

That aside, a design luminary arguing that commercial priorities have pushed aside the topics of power, ethics, and ecology in design, and that design should become less Western-centric & colonial… well, we need more of that kind of talk.