Free A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel H. Pink Page A

strength—design.
    D ESIGN IS a high-concept aptitude that is difficult to outsource or automate—and that increasingly confers a competitive advantage in business. Good design, now more accessible and affordable than ever, also offers us a chance to bring pleasure, meaning, and beauty to our lives. But most important, cultivating a design sensibility can make our small planet a better place for us all. “To be a designer is to be an agent of change,” says CHAD’s Barbara Chandler Allen. “Think of how much better the world is going to be when CHAD kids pour into the world.”
    *The correct answers are: 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
    *Less well known is the ballot in Duval County in which the presidential ballot showed five candidates on one page and another five candidates on the next page, along with instructions to “vote every page.” In that county, 7,162 Gore ballots were tossed out because voters selected two candidates for President. Had the instructions been clearer, Duval County, too, would have provided Gore the margin of victory.



Keep a Design Notebook.
    Buy a small notebook and begin carrying it with you wherever you go. When you see great design, make a note of it. (Example: my $6.95 Hotspot silicone trivet—a thin, flexible square that doubles as a pot holder, triples as a jar opener, and looks cool.) Do the same for flawed design. (Example: the hazard light button in my car, which is so close to the gearshift that I often turn on the hazards when I put the car in PARK.) Before long, you’ll be looking at graphics, interiors, environments, and much more with greater acuity. And you’ll understand in a deeper way how design decisions shape our everyday lives. Be sure to include the design of experiences as well—buying a cup of coffee, taking a trip on an airplane, going to an emergency room. If you’re not a note-taker, carry around a small digital camera or camera cell phone instead and snap photos of good and bad design.
    Channel Your Annoyance.
1. Choose a household item that annoys you in any way.
2. Go by yourself to a café with pen and paper, but without a book and without a newspaper, and, for the duration of your cup of coffee, think about improving the poorly designed item.
3. Send the idea/sketch as it is to the manufacturer of your annoying household item.
     
You never know what might come of it.
The above from Stefan Sagmeister, graphic design impresario. (More info: www.sagmeister.com )
    Read Design Magazines.
    Professional designers read (and obsess over) design magazines. So should you (except for the obsess part). Reading design magazines—or just leafing through them—can sharpen your eye and inspire your mind. While hundreds of design magazines—many of which merely fetishize expensive things—fill the newsstands, these eight are on my must-read list:
    Ambidextrous — A project of Stanford University’s d. school, this quirky magazine explores the craft of design and the nuances of design thinking. (More info: www.ambidextrousmag.com )
     
    Dwell — One of the most respected shelter magazines, Dwell has an ethic of public service and environmental responsibility that helps it stand out. (More info: www.dwellmag.com )
     
    HOW — This terrific magazine mostly focuses on graphic design. It also has lots of smart business advice, reading recommendations, and an annual design competition that’s a great source of ideas.
    (More info: www.howdesign.com )
     
    iD — This award-winning magazine is well known for its Annual Design Review, which singles out the year’s best designs—and for the iD 40, which introduces readers to up-and-coming designers.
    (More info: www.idonline.com )
     
    Metropolis — With a strong emphasis on construction and materials, this magazine offers tremendous insight into the built environment. I also like its coverage of sustainable design. (More info: www.metropolismag.com )
     
    O Magazine— Oprah Winfrey’s publication, which bears its creator’s design