This morning, while straining to get my cognitive gears to engage, I stumbled across two tidbits of advice that made the task easier and prepared me for the week ahead.

The first came from Brain Pickings, one of my favorite sites. Proprietress Maria Popova unearthed a 1972 Q&A with the legendary Charles Eames. The whole thing is worth a read, but this exchange stuck with me:

Interviewer: What are the boundaries of design?

Eames: What are the boundaries of problems?

Moments later, reeling from that hip-check to my mind, I learned that someone just executed a business idea I had several years ago.  That was irritating — but the pangs of irritation somehow triggered me to remember a line from Karim Rashid‘s Karimanifesto, where he writes:

“Never say ‘I could have done that’ because you didn’t.”

Think on these things, Grasshopper. Happy Monday.

4 Responses to “Monday morning advice from two design icons”

  1. Jake says:

    One of my friends always said, Modern Art = “I could’ve done that” + “But you didn’t”

  2. Dr. Rae says:

    Ever since I met you reading “A Whole New Mind” and “Johnny Bunko” years ago I became a fan of yours. Now I know why… Please keep stretching my boundaries Dan!

  3. Ben Knight says:

    I thought people from DC didn’t believe in philosophy!

  4. Ben Knight says:

    The Eames quote/statement has been rolling around in my head. It reminds me of this quote by Design god, Massimo Vignelli:

    “We have a responsibility to our clients, ourselves, and the society in general to design things that will not become obsolete. Obsolescence, particularly planned obsolescence, is a social crime whose ultimate goal is only profit for the few over the masses. Designers should not be part of this despicable conspiracy.”

    Here is the question: does obsolescence apply to Marketing, Fine Art, and other communications as well? If so, start questioning everything you do/produce/consume/etc.