When Designers Should Just Say No

In a compelling editorial, Allison Arieff takes on the pernicious consequences of the "maker"—an invention of the DIY ethos and design savvy of the contemporary zeitgeist. Here's how Arieff describes the maker: "…somewhere in the course of entering the pop culture zeitgeist, the warm and fuzzy self-empowered 'maker' idea got turned into an engine for output and profit. No idea is too superfluous."

The evolution of the maker's design practice, according to Arieff, reflects a blind spot in collective memory: "Not so long ago it felt like we were beginning to recognize that as a society, our patterns of production and consumption were not sustainable…. But that period was short, and the resolve for change it seemed to herald has all but evaporated. While many innovative companies have been focusing on selling experiences rather than manufacturing goods, the drive to produce more has only accelerated."

Although the article focuses more on consumer goods, the argument of the article holds true for all designers, including those who call themselves urban designers. Moreover, the tools of the contemporary maker trade, as described by Arieff, include technologies like 3D printers, which are also changing the game in urban design practices.