Does Design need another Syd Mead?
Designers like Syd Mead were a key influence on my design approach, an inspiration that opened up new worlds to me like Blade Runner. He created entire narratives through his work, envisioning futures beyond how things look to tell stories about how people would live, work, and interact with technology. Yet today, maybe because there's just more design, much of our work feels a bit functional, scalable, uniform, safe, and consistently optimized for efficiency over imagination. Or perhaps it's the rise of design systems and more in house design teams, where consistency and brand alignment take priority over bold storytelling, creating a world of sameness, a revert to the mean.
Design systems have been a boon to our industry, helping us scale and create more efficient and effective experiences that engage our customers. Looking around though, don't all apps, AI chatbots, and agents share the same rounded corners, typography, neutral color palettes? Are we now overly constrained by the very thing we created to make us work better?
In Syd Mead's designs, he was asking what would a future megacity look like? How would people interact with technology in 50 years? What questions are we asking in our designs? Yes, there's a need for pragmatic design problem solving, making real things people can use to solve their daily problems. We need and must do that work with intense focus on creating real customer value.
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What's missing is narrative and meaning. Think about how Space Odyssey 2001, Star Wars, and Blade Runner crafted cultural narratives around designs. Design was more than the function, it had personality, character, purpose. Digital product designs rarely achieve this depth because we've had to prioritize functionality and scale over creating unique experiences.
Can we start thinking of design as a storytelling medium again in this new era? Create new design directions beyond mass produced, data driven market trends? Maybe we need to make room for human imperfection, the raw edges, and personality in our work. AI tools have made it easier to make, shouldn't the new tools also allow us to put more of our own individual style and personality into our work?
Does design need another Syd Mead? Not really. But it needs more designers willing to push the system of design. The future of design will come from those willing to break the system to create something new.
Consumer-obsessed. Strategically driven. Team focused. Growth oriented.
2 周Albert, they are already here. Daniel Simon, Doug Chiang, Jay Shuster and scores of other visionary creators are manifesting the art of the possible, every day.
concept DESIGN / VISUAL development
4 周Well said. I was fortunate to be friends with Syd for the last ten years of his life and got to know the man behind the markers pretty well (much to my father's delight as Syd was his college hero). My take away from endless conversations was his bottomless curiosity and zest for everything that would fall under the design umbrella. The"scenario" was paramount in every aspect of his process. Every abstract design or environment had a distinct logic and narrative that grew from his vast wealth experience, but also his continual research into what was current or coming down the road. I think this is key to any visual artist, specifically in design. Style and aesthetic become secondary. The point of view and voice of the artist will evolve naturally as a result.
Global Head of Experience Design at Vorwerk International
1 个月Albert Shum interesting question. Visionary talents like Syd Mead, who propel the industry forward with disruptive and impactful approaches, certainly benefit the design practice. However, it's crucial to acknowledge that such exceptional talents are rare. The truth is that the design field, like all other fields, predominantly relies on "standard" designers—those skilled in unlocking value for their organizations through practical and effective design. While genius designers are not the majority, their influence inspires the broader community to innovate within their capacities.
Principal Designer @ Microsoft | Innovating human-centered experiences
1 个月I’ve met Syd and he was such a kind soul. Miss him dearly. RIP
Product Design Leader at Adobe | Ex-Microsoft & IBM
1 个月I think the ubiquity of "good enough" experiences and products primarily generated by AI and agentic experiences will create new, or a return to, markets for human-driven personalization. Great products and experiences aren't just about the artifact itself but often the story of how something was created and the person and craft of the process itself. That gets lost in a process where there is no human interaction at all.