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Is a government supported U.S. Design Council sought by the design
community? Would such a council lend an aspect of financial stability, credibility and federal support
to the profession? Or would it simply foster unnecessary bureaucracy and a false sense of establishment?
The design community does not need the centralized, politicized & bureaucratized vision a Design Council would provide. This is not a time for centralized plotical leadership but one of collective individual leadership.
We have the finest post secondary education system in the world.
We have a National Design Museum.
We have AWID, IDSA, AIGA, ASID, AIA, EIEIO.
We have conferences in Aspen, Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit and East Wick.
We have professional publications, academic journals, and Manhattan fanzines.
We have cable TV, public television and public access television.
We have internet.
We have designer showrooms, trade shows and corporate patrons.
We have elders providing us with foundations and perspective.
We have visionaries that see the future clearly, but speak in clouds.
We have minor celebreties that dres funny.
We have skill that adds cultural, aesthetic and economic value.
We have all this potential within our control.
In matters of politics leave politicians to lead the way.
In matters of design leave it to me.
The government should be our client but not by mandate. They should be pour client because they understand our service's value. We must make them understand what we will do for them. Even though we build the better mousetraps often you need to beat down the door with it before anyone notices.
If we want people to understand what we can contribute we must show them by contributing. Just decide what to do, tell the world, do it, and tell the world.
We possess the resources to go wherever our imaginations direct us. We're in the cat bird seat; lets not give it to Washington because we are afraid of heights.
Scott Lundberg