Designer actions: the users needs

A designer designs especially for the community. He needs to consider what a user needs, how the culture in which the user lives is developing and how he can connect with the user to start a dialogue. He also needs to consider whether all these inventions we try to make are made for a better garment or a better life for human.[1] The needs mentioned by Prof. Manfred Max-neef are the same for everybody since mankind started to exist, but the way we try to satisfy our needs is different for every person, also for every time period and place we are living in. For example the need for understanding can be satisfied by studying, meditating and investigating.[2] Fashion designers could think of ways how to satisfy the needs of people, however, this does not necessarily mean they need to make new clothes all the time.

‘People do not always want a product. They want a solution for a certain problem. A service rather than a product can be the right solution.’[3] A good option mentioned by Braungart and McDonough is trying to reformulate the assignment and start reinventing.[4] E.g. Instead of designing a pair of trousers, you could design something that covers the legs or keeps them warm when needed. Victor Papanek gives another good idea; he explains the possibility of combining social and time patterns of people while designing. For example using washing machines in playgrounds.

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[1] Jonathan Chapman, Emotionally Durable Design, 2005, page 10
[2] Manfred Max-Neef, Real life Economics, 1992, page 197-214
[3] PRé Consultants bv, http://www.pre.nl/ecodesign/ecodesign.htm#1, Ecodesign guidelines, Amersfoort, The Netherlands.
[4] William McDonoug & Michael Braungart, Cradle to cradle, remaking the way we make things, 2002, page 179