Last Illies Blog

By Erik Illies Alright. So how about that last year huh? Haha, what a way to start a blog… but why not right? Gotta take up space with something! Speaking of something, I was recently turned on to a great thinker named Jacque Fresco by my friend Ryan (you know who you are) and have been thinking quite a bit about the types of projects he works on. He isn’t really an architect or engineer per-se, nor is he a sociologist; instead he is a master at playing pretend. That’s what this deep thought by Jack Handy is all about this time. Playing Pretend! Mr. Fresco’s work is an all encompassing view of what the world could be (in his eyes) if every facet of the human existence was approached using the scientific method and current/ could be technologies. His designs include buildings, personal vehicles, modular homes/ apartments, freight/ person trams, planes, ships, ocean cities, metropolises, etc... The breadth of his work is a reflection of the ways he approaches a lifestyle problem that is answered by a design solution. It’s worthwhile to stop here and repeat, that the focus of his work (and I will argue that all true design professions objective should be) to identify lifestyle problems as they relate to humanity and solve them with design! He doesn’t simply stop at the product design though. Jacque Fresco continues his thoughts and designs through use and after life to some extent. This becomes more of a social attendance by the design than the initial use of the design. Really, any facet of responsiveness by the designs is equally important, just not all as often considered. This again is the intent of the blog post. I do not as much want to talk up Mr. Fresco, rather I want to talk about why I was inspired by him. As a student we produce designs to respond to a studio assignment. We have little more than a rough idea of what the implications of the design execution are, and our own free will on what design style to use. Here, I feel, is the beautiful crux moment where we as designers must choose how to proceed with design. Wow, so deep… what an original concept! I know, it’s cheesy and a little contrived and in all honesty a “duh” concept; but it’s worth recognizing each time we start a project to keep our work in perspective. In whatever way we perceive ourselves as architects, or interior designers, or fashion designers, or engineers, or politicians, or captains of industry, or whatever our profession ends up being, we should remain cognizant of the responsibility humanity has bestowed unto us. That is to always keep the human spirit in mind when we design. Our solution has to be our best attempt to make the world a better place in some way by virtue of our buildings being built, or products being sold. I think Mr. Fresco accomplishes this whole heartedly, and to quote Rush, ”the Blacksmith and the Artist each must do their part to mould a new reality, Closer to the Heart!” If you are further interested in the designs of Jacque Fresco please look up his biopic movie “Future by Design”, or visit his ecological project website http://www.thevenusproject.com/! It took a close friend and a supporter of mine to help remind me that this is what’s important about what we do and why we should still be excited to be designers!!! Spread Good Vibes!!!