///
Congrats on to DesignIndia on completing 5 years - as LaoTse once
said "the membership of a thousand individuals starts with one"* -
and that one, Sudhir, needs a pat on the back for bringing together
this brilliant, somewhat egoistic and sometimes terribly abstract
group of intelligent, often thoughtfully withdrawn, but well meaning
individuals.

///
Sandip's notes on useless ideas - articulating our thoughts with
concrete examples is highly relevant. Dr Hands, my former lecturer,
friend and colleague calls theoretical discussions on a pragmatic
subject like design, a bit like trying to put a bunch of 8**
hyperactive puppies in a sack - put 3 and try to put in the 4th - out
slips that little chap - corner the other and another two are out...

We do need to illustrate our thoughts, comments and observations with
practical examples, metaphors, stories and a dose of humor. Or elase
we may end up 'chasing our tails'. I am sure some past winners of the
BI/NID award may breathe life into the dormant discussion on 'useless
ideas'.

///
Everyday, every moment we make choices - Bullet-proof vest or
Jodhpuris, Times new roman or Sapient sans - some of these choices
are big, life changing - the others pretty mundane (but relevant
nonetheless). Some of these choices are are by ignorance (a default
mode if you will), some by accident and some by design. I can hope
that a design institute, once home to the whos-who of design, makes
choices - through design - to present and to communicate itself - and
to inspire the generations of designers to come.

Regards,
Jay


* with due apologies to Lao Tse, for taking a bit of creative liberty
with his words
** could well be 7 or 9 puppies

--^------------------------------
JD MSc FRSA
NID 1989-94

Ideasfoundry
Manchester UK




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