And I am thoroughly enjoying it. Daniel Pink makes compelling arguments about why the left-brain is out of date. One: left brains are being outsourced and automated. Two: American households spend more money annually on TRASH BAGS than households in 90 other countries spend to survive. His argument is that in a time of abundance things can't just work well for a good price - they have to have visual and emotional appeal. There is a great argument in the book that the results of the 2000 election was determined by bad design. Please read this book so we can discuss it!
Pink lays out 6 activites at which our right-brains excel. He also provides a "portfolio" section at the end of each section describing ways that we can exercise our right brain. I want to spend a little time on each of the 6 areas - and what better way to do it but on a blog?
Before I get started, I want to extend an invitation to you to do the exercises and activities right along with me. Read the book. Contribute to the blog. Give feedback, express your opinion, and share your knowledge! I know that many of my friends are already really, really good in these areas. I want to learn from you!
To begin.
Design. My stomach just knotted up. My brain just flipped off - completely. But I don't think it was supposed to. I think my right brain was supposed to get juiced up, "Here I am! That's what I'm for!" But my right brain didn't do that. You're reading the writings of a woman who has had expansive blank white walls in her house for 4 years. Design completely intimidates me. Luckily, Pink has suggestions for how I can work this out.
Portfolio building activity one: a design notebook
The task: keep notes or take photos of both great and not-so-great design. A product that works well, or that is more enjoyable to use because of its good design. Or something that is inconvenient because the design was flawed. The idea is to become aware of how the design of things informs our experience each and every day.
