Air pie, and a walk round |

So in just a few months, all things going well, I’ll have a product design degree.

Then I’ll get a job designing stuff, using all the skills I’ve learnt to do all the user testing, get the aesthetics just right and draw it up in CAD when it’ll get manufactured. Where? well if you do what I just did and take all the electronica on your desk and look where it’s made, it’s more than likely Asia; China et al are the workshops of the planet.

Frightening then to see the affects of my future actions on this country after watching Manufactured Landscapes with Mayo tonight. The sheer scale, speed, precision of manufacture and its affect on the landscape is awesome and terrifying in equal measure.

The film follows photographer Edward Burtynsky on his visits to China, which I found it really depressing. Probably because I have a conscience, but as a product designer I am the problem here, and the potential solution.

Every designer should see this film.

Film Trailer here. Edward Burtynsky’s TED talk here and his website here.