Make Life Better. By Design

It has been said that change is the only constant. The universe changes relatively slowly. People change throughout their lifetimes. Design inevitably reflects these changes.

Most designs contain a mix of practical, emotional, cultural and aesthetic concerns. There is therefore a subjective element to design. 

Design covers a vast range of activities, where the various fields place different emphasis on different elements.

Which is why there is no simple single rulebook of design. Annoying, isn't it?

A discussion with Yusuf Shamsee, doctor, former general practitioner with strong views on how design can make life better. Fascinating to get a medical man's view on the subject.

A longer than usual podcast: we fed off each other and explored areas neither of us probably had in mind at the start. Thoroughly enjoyable to make and I hope you enjoy listening.

BTW: a lot of the places mentioned are in the Holme Valley in West Yorkshire.

More acronyms from the worlds of architecture, design, planning, development and construction.

Cryptic? Confusing? Exclusive? Annoying? Every industry uses acronyms, like it or not. To save you having to ask or look them up every few minutes, Kevin Drayton explains some of those you might encounter in the world of design, architecture and construction.

If you enjoy this there will be another one with more alphabet soup coming soon.

By the way, the little feller in the picture has nothing to do with the subject.

There's a saying that knowledge is power. So if you want to emulate the Duracell bunny and keep going longer, keep on filling your fuel cells with knowledge.

Knowledge is also food for thought. Unlike food for eating, knowledge does not diminish or go off. So you can - and should - be generous with your knowledge. And the older you are, the longer your knowledge has proved itself in your real life experience. It's good, vintage, extra-mature stuff. Very very valuable.

Spread it around. You'll always have plenty.

The medical profession manages to present both the serious and the not so serious faces of the job without losing respect or dignity in the process.

Something similar could be said of some other professions, but not architects and designers. Why is this? 

In this episode Kevin Drayton looks into the conundrum and attempts to come up with some answers.

If you were blindfolded and not allowed to touch anything, would you be able to tell what building you were in? 

Adding earplugs might be straying into uncomfortable territory, but you would still be left with your sense of smell.

And smell, in relation to design and the part it can play in making life better, is the subject of this podcast.

Local authorities would appear to be well placed to make life better for citizens. However, their opportunities and constraints are often misunderstood by the public.

In this episode I've invited someone with first-hand knowledge of local politics to talk to me about their aspirations and frustrations as a councillor trying to make life better for residents of the authority.

My guest for this episode believes that people are the important ingredient in successful enterprises. He also happens to be a chemistry graduate and vociferous advocate for making things i.e. manufacturing.

Dean Morgan talks us through his road to believing that people and how you treat them is the key to making life better. His life in chemistry, manufacturing and rugby (yes, rugby!) is the story of a life where design, perhaps unknowingly, has underpinned success.

Maps and diagrams: representations of reality that can make life better. Strangely, the greatest accuracy or truth to life does not necessarily make life better.

In this episode we look at how our perception affects our interpretation of maps and diagrams using the iconic London Underground Map as an example. And you don't have to hold an Oyster card to get in.