New developments in machine learning are quite funny to me, because they do not address the thinking, only the comp. They are comp generators. By their nature, they use other comps to build the comps. Since comps are usually copyrighted, this is effectively legally untenable in most global jurisdictions. The most notable example just got turned off after it clearly ripped off Apple. And yet people think that this technology is the savior of design, or the next era of design. See? Hilarious!
Design is not the comp. It never has been the comp. It is incumbent on value-based designers to reinforce this idea from the jump, or buyers will incorrectly think they are, in fact, buying a comp. They are not buying a comp, have never bought a comp, and will never buy comps, when they buy design.
Design is researched thinking made into concrete action. You are always buying the thinking, not the action.
For those who sell their thinking, in what specific ways are you bolstering your own expertise to ruggedize for an uncertain future?
This week, for paid members
- This week’s paid lesson talks about how to critique surprise designs. What happens when unresearched comps are put in front of value-based designers?
- We dunked on a thing for last week’s design of the week, so this week we found something nicer.
- And lastly, our monthly office hours are today, at 1p CDT. Look forward to seeing you!
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Links
- Design is a form of leveraged power.
- Technology is useless when created for its own sake.
- Accessible forms: requirements, structure, validation.
- Show imagery in filters where imagery is appropriate. It’s more often than you think!