DESIGN AS A WHOLE

Everyday spent wondering about design,
is a day spent wondering, instead of designing.
It is not thought that creates designers. It is the act of designing.

Because, as far as I'm concerned, there's design and art in everything we do we do. It doesn't even come from conscience thinking. From the way we brush our teeth, to the way we wipe our ass, we are all designers. Most times, the best way to do something becomes apparent because it is (simple,) (obvious,) and (effective). Design today is a word that describes being good at exploiting the (simple,) (obvious,) and the (effective).

Take this beekeeper's hive tool for instance.

It's barely more than a piece of flatiron, and yet every square inch of it is considered. From the bowing middle, to that hole near the head, the hive tool takes care of everything when it comes to maintaining an apiary. It pulls out nails. It scrapes off propolis (bee glue). It decapitates Africanized queen bees.

This tool exists not because of years of design research, but because some person decided they didn't want to deal with switching between a hammer, pry-bar, a scraper, and their knife to get the job done. The idea came from necessity, and its current state was decided through of years of refinement.

The hive tool is a specialty item. It was made by someone immersed in the culture of beekeeping; they just wanted to make their lives a little easier. So immerse yourself into whatever you are trying to figure out. Live it. Understand the problems, the opportunities, and the difference between the two. Think Less. Do More.