In this week's comments update, readers are in disagreement over Christine Murray's statement that designers have a responsibility to help prevent a myriad of issues facing society.
Crisis averted: Christine Murray says "designers may not be able to save the world by themselves, however they must help avert societal problems and the looming climate crisis," but few readers agree.
"Where does the idea come from that design can fix political issues"" asked Rd. "Trying to avert climate change with design is like mopping a floor while the tap is still running. These are not problems that need fixing, they need to be prevented."
Peckish79 had a different analogy: "It's like blaming the doctor if the patient dies ? he went to the hospital so I guess he wasn't okay to begin with. Of course doctors try their best and of course we all hope that they don't make mistakes but there are limits to what they can do." "Design, like everything else in a capitalist economy, is driven by what people will pay for," added Chris. "If you don't like what is being created, you have to change the financial incentives of consumers and developers, which is not a design problem.
Seth went on: "Designers have ceded their role in visioning with the communities for which we design. We now are brought in for compliance after money has been appropriated, bad ideas instigated and local input has been marginalised and sidelined."
Murray ha...