Aynne Valencia is an expert in design and former Chair of the interaction design program at the California College of the Arts. In this conversation, she compares the rhythms of design across private, civic, and educational sectors. Aynne shares her 18-year career journey, emphasizing patience and collaboration. She addresses long-term versus quick decision-making in design, highlighting the impact of governance on digital services. The discussion also critiques rapid design practices, urging designers to prioritize societal benefits.
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Quick takeaways
Understanding the distinct project timelines and challenges in private, civic, and education sectors is essential for effective design strategies.
Designers must adopt a long-term perspective and ethical considerations to create responsible, impactful solutions that benefit society.
Deep dives
Navigating Different Sectors in Design
The conversation highlights the unique dynamics between the private, civic, and education sectors in design. Each sector has its own inherent challenges and timelines for project completion, which greatly influences design strategies. For example, the private sector often mandates rapid deployment driven by quarterly results, while academia operates on semester cycles, and civic projects may hinge on legislative timelines. This understanding of varying cadences is crucial for designers who must adapt their approaches accordingly to deliver effective solutions within each environment.
The Importance of Long-Term Vision
A significant insight is the necessity of having a long-term perspective when working on large-scale design initiatives. Successful design projects often take years to evolve from conception to market, particularly in hardware and civic design. The speaker's experience with projects like the digital strategy for McDonald's illustrates that transformative ideas require patience and commitment to see fruition. Therefore, fostering a culture that embraces foresight and understands the gradual nature of change is vital for achieving meaningful outcomes in design.
Design Ethics and Responsibility
The discussion underscores the ethical responsibilities that designers hold, particularly in their influence on society through digital products and services. A focus on creating thoughtful, responsible designs can lead to societal benefits, contrasting starkly with the consequences of the 'move fast and break things' philosophy often prevalent in the tech industry. Through roles in academia and civic services, designers can ensure that their work is aligned with the common good rather than merely commercial interests. This alignment reinforces the importance of ethical considerations in design, prompting designers to reflect seriously on the implications of their work.
My guest today is Aynne Valencia. Aynne is my colleague at the California College of the Arts, where she is the former Chair of the undergraduate interaction design program. In addition to teaching at CCA, she is also the Director of Design at San Francisco Digital Services, which designs digital experiences for the citizens of San Francisco and the city employees that serve them. In this conversation, we discuss the differences and similarities between the private, civic, and education sectors and the cadences of these domains.