DESIGN VS. TECHNOLOGY

As part of the Interaction Design Lab at the School of Design Bern, I looked at the topic "Design vs. Technology". The title deliberately leads to a dead end and is meant to invite solutions, because the fact that designers and programmers often do not understanding each other is a real problem.

To develop digital products at a high level, designers and developers have to work together as smoothly as possible, so we should replace the vs. with a +. This equation works and innovative products can be created.

In principle, the programmer does the preliminary work for the machine

(The computer should do what the coder envisages).

The designer does the preliminary work for the person

(The designer leads the user to do something specific).

At Apps with love, designers and programmers work in the same room and can exchange ideas at any time. Both designers and programmers are already represented at the project kick-off.

ARE TODAY'S PROGRAMMERS TOMORROW'S DESIGNERS?

Do creative designers have enough understanding of the technical parameters to be able to rethink the tasks of the future? Yes and no.
I believe that the two specialist areas of design and programming need to work side by side. The fact that their representatives are different types of people is enriching for a company. That's why I'd rephrase the question:

Are programming designers better interaction designers?
Are designing programmers better interface programmers?

Two examples of this thesis:

THE PROGRAMMING DESIGNER: LEONARDO DA VINCI

An artist who studied mathematics and technology. This enabled him to come up with discoveries and inventions that were far ahead of his time.
There were probably better mathematicians, but his interest in and understanding of both areas helped him to develop these ideas and visions. Some of his pictures follow a mathematical structure and are constructed.

Without his artistic side, Da Vinci would probably never have developed so many constructions that were so far ahead of their time.

THE DESIGNING PROGRAMMER: HEINZ ISLER

An ETH engineer who studied painting at arts college and thus found completely new approaches in engineering. His new kind of formwork for concrete enabled him to create new design possibilities for architects.

INSIGHTS

Visionary design concepts can influence technologies and show what will be possible next. Innovative technological possibilities open up fields for new design concepts.

To put together a good project team with designers and programmers, you need:

• Understanding of what others are doing and why they are doing it

• Basic knowledge of the other specialist fields

• Direct and positive communication between the teams

• Interest in the other specialist fields

• An exchange of knowledge, lessons, and expertise

QUESTIONS A TEAM SHOULD ASK ITSELF

What could the negative aspects of merging designers and programmers be?
Can creatives think completely freely when they already know exactly what is feasible and what is not?

Who takes the lead?
Designers or programmers - or the budget?

How can the interfaces be improved?
How can we make the convergence of designers and programmers an asset to the project?

Best slide - says it all. CODESIGN - work together. Thanks @harryfk #iadlab15 pic.twitter.com/OpxbLjIjhh

— Dan U (@edwingprod) 11th September 2015

WHAT WE NEED IS NO LONGER NARROW SPECIALISTS BUT ALL-ROUND EXPERTS

An interest in and basic understanding of both areas helps people to arrive at better solutions and develop new approaches in collaboration with other specialist areas.
This approach should be already being taught at our universities of applied sciences and training centres. Graphic artists, designers, and interaction designers should already be working on projects with programmers or even be in the same classes during their training. This would make it easier for people from these fields to work together and would probably lead to completely new solutions.