Are we designing solutions around assumptions, or around what people actually need?
Poor acoustics are one of the most complained-about workplace issues, and modular systems are increasingly being used to make workplaces more flexible. But we often talk about these things as though we already know what the problem is.
"We just want a space where people can concentrate." But what does concentration actually mean? Are we assuming we need quieter areas, more individual spaces, better acoustics, fewer distractions, or something else entirely? Because one person's idea of a space that helps them concentrate might be completely different from someone else's.
And if we're not careful, we end up designing solutions around assumptions rather than understanding what people actually need.
This is something I keep coming back to in product design. It's easy to jump straight into thinking about the product, the materials, the functionality and how we're going to make it. But sometimes the most valuable part of the process happens before any of that.
It's asking better questions. Understanding the people who will use something, the environment it needs to work in and the problem we're actually trying to solve. Because a beautifully designed product isn't necessarily a good solution if it was solving the wrong problem from the start.
And I think that's one of the most interesting parts of design. Not just figuring out what to make, but working out whether we're making the right thing in the first place.