Why learn to make stuff?

Designing, for me, is more than making pretty things. For me, it's about problem solving, and it’s also about anti-consumerism.

I love trying to find solutions to things! And not just tangible things. All kinds of problems from maths problems, to interpersonal problems, to quick solutions in emergency situations (i.e tying a car bonnet down with a shoe lace).

The process of design thinking is a skill which is really quite useful in all aspects of life!

By learning to solve problems via the physical, you are able to see the problem, touch and measure the problem and then persevere to create the solution - even if it looks a little rough around the edges - and then realise an even better solution based off what you’ve created - so you can try again but with more confidence and ability than you had the first time.

Learning to solve problems in the context of Product Design is also useful in the practical space. Say you move into a house with a small bathroom and no cupboard space. Sometimes the exact piece of furniture you need isn’t in any shops, or if you do find something, it doesn’t quite fit or match, or is just too expensive to justify buying.  As a designer/maker, you have the skills to just create the solution yourself! Not only is it cheaper and you can make it to size - but it’s also uniquely yours - no one else has one exactly like it in the whole entire world! 

While studying product Design at university, I struggled with the concept of design for the purpose of just making pretty things. Yes, I do like things that look nice, don’t we all, but aren’t there more than enough chairs and mugs on the planet already? Do we really need to go on designing more, purely for aesthetic reasons? Do I really want to be responsible for encouraging people to consume more?

And the answer was and is, if I can make things that are sustainable, yes. If I can use the skills to refurbish and re-use instead of buying new, then yes, and if I use my knowledge of materials and processes to avoid purchasing things of inferior quality that will just end up in kerbside collection because it can’t be fixed or repurposed, then yes again. Choosing to be a product designer doesn't have to equate to creating consumable products that add to an already over adorned world.

So what I'm trying to say with all of this is - here’s hoping we are passing on a little bit of that knowledge, awareness and skills to your children through our classes.

What if, by teaching kids about the products around us, about how they are made and where they come from, kids can learn to make more mindful decisions about what they consume?

As the conglomerates grow larger and buy out the smaller companies, more and more poor quality products get produced because they are often more concerned with making profit than creating quality, long lasting products. 

But if you are taught how to design, make and fix things;

You can’t buy poor quality products without a conscious awareness that perhaps it’s not the best idea.

You learn to design, repurpose and fix products rather than just dispose of them or replace them.

Emily.