Can Designers Save the World (and Should They Try?)

Designers are clearly more self-conscious about their social role today than they have been at any time in the last 20 years, yet the lack of substance of the critics who have come to the fore, and the issues on which it is chosen to take a stand, reflect a political agenda that is set elsewhere. There are many areas of life in which designers can make a real difference, but we need to look first at why they are taking themselves so seriously in the noughties.

Macdonald, Nico. uiGarden (2006). Articles>Graphic Design>Cultural Theory>Politics

Design By Or For the People?

User-centred design is now widely accepted, but the emphasis on its usability component under-estimates people’s abilities and limits innovation.

Macdonald, Nico. Guardian Online (2003). Articles>User Centered Design