Lorusso's essay explores the pervasive yet elusive nature of design, questioning its autonomy and power. It introduces the concept of "design panism," where design is seen as both "everything" and "everyone," blurring the lines between expert and amateur. The essay examines the illusions surrounding design's essence, its relationship to other fields, and its capacity to effect change. It further considers whether designers are truly agents of change or merely cogs in larger systems. It analyzes design's attempts to achieve autonomy and synthesis, ultimately questioning the effectiveness of design as a transformative force in the face of complex social and economic structures, and the idea that the design plan is largely shaped by forces beyond the designers control.

Please note that the podcast covers key points from the source with synthetic voices, which may have glitches. It’s a reflective, not comprehensive, interpretation.

Lorusso, Silvio. What Design Can’t Do: Essays on Design and Disillusion. First edition. Eindhoven: Set Margins, 2023.

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