Designing Politics

We have to solve a problem for the future, not just for now and for us. If we look at the decision makers and money holders (apart from the private contributors to various issues relating to energy consumption) - we must admit that a big responsibility is on the shoulders of politicians. Although we can and must all contribute to a sustainable world everyday - the decision making instance, also when elected by the public, has a great deal of power. Like it is being discussed in the posts, especially those relating to Panic Buttons and Climate Change, we generally see the government vs. the public and we never feel 'let in on the reality of the situation'. Furthermore many post mention the term ' raising awareness'. Like Anett says in a previous post, people almost need a shock in order to start caring about these issues - I then ask my self if realization is then not actually more about empathy than about recycling - we need to reach the core of people in order to make them feel like it concerns them and not just 'all the others'. How can this be done? 

It can be disturbing to think that government instances do not have a section for creativity when these areas most likely demand a sudden injection of innovation along side with law and sciences. It becomes interesting to think what an influx of designers would do to a political environment.

Shortly before the elections in Denmark I read an article explaining a proposition of one of the more socialist parties, they were suggesting that 'disadvantaged' families would receive a cheque every year enabling them to purchase schoolbags for their children. The scheme was budgeted the same as test-equipment for hospitals to reduce risk of HIV transfer during blood-infusion by 20 %. And to be fair if you struggle to put dinner on the table, this cheque may well be seen as a direct provocation. I then ask myself if this proposal is not a clear example of lack of creativity in solutions? I am not arguing against equal rights for children from different social layers - as it could be suggested in a heated political debate of contra-attacks. I am merely suggesting a new approach. Many schoolbags are disposed of every year, just because one child has lost interest in the Superman icon and convinced his parents to get him a Batman version, does not mean that some other child may not be very excited by the prospect of a Superman bag. A project in secondary school could be for the students to design, build, maintain and empty a "schoolbag recycling container", this will not only improve skills of crafts and creativity but the children will have to deal with issues of empathy, how do we communicate with visuals 'treat other as you would want to be treated'.

I believe there are endless opportunities of engaging designers in politics - not only as a response to political issues, but in the very creation of the agenda.

Danish news articles (Berlingske Tidende)

History of posted blogs

Photo borrowed from Flickr