INITIATIVE

The essay on Prime Design in the Reader concludes thus:

"Only the freewheeling artist-explorer, non-academic, scientist-philosopher, mechanic, economist-poet who has never waited for patron-starting and accrediting of his co-ordinate abilities holds the prime initiative today." Humanity's survival depends on "the artist-scientist's spontaneous seizure of the prime design responsibility". (p.346)

Papanek (1971, p.270) echoes this where he says that, given automation of production and computerization of supervision and control,

"the work of the design team (research, social planning, creative innovation) is the only meaningful and at the same time crucial activity left to man. Inescapably, it will become the job of designers to help set goals for all of society".

Prime Design Initiative is Concept 11 of Design Strategy (Utopia Or Oblivion, p.379). Therein we find additional practical remarks:

1. The invention-developing pioneer must not own her own shop and tools, because this brings pressure to make non-production tools "pay their way".
2. It is also fatal to build up a large staff dependent on one product.
3. Lone inventors/designers enjoy more freedom from bureaucracy than do corporate employees.
4. Patents are essential.

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THE FULLER MAP

© Paul Taylor 2001