The Age of Designers

In a world determined to put aside assumptions and stereotypes, is it impossible for the designer to truly transcend the stigmatism of age? Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, age still comes into play in many industries, and the world of design is no exception to the rules. It begs the question; does the design stand apart from the designer? Can it truly be judged without judging the designer as well?

We see this occurrence every day. Graphic designers who are young and hip while in their 20s bring fresh new ideas to the advertising world. Their unconventional ways break into new and innovative perspectives that keep the advertising world alive and teeming with creative juices. However, once the graphic designer enters into their 30s, with years of experience under their belts, they are no longer viewed as a creative well full of new ideas, but instead a tired and uninspired designer who can no longer tap into that unsullied creativity.

Architects, however, do not reach the zenith of their career until it is almost at an end. The respect of a renowned architect comes with years and years of experience and a full and tested portfolio of structures that have passed the test of time. Not until they reach their 60s are they treated with any sense of reverence, while the young and untried architect must scrape and claw their way through decades of climbing the proverbial career ladder.

And, somewhere in between the aged and the young, lies the pinnacle point of the career of the industrial designer. This could be because industrial design is not merely as simple as sitting at a computer and painting a beautiful image with the precise touch of a well practiced mouse click. Once the skill is learned, it is simply a matter of adding your own unique creativity to the computer canvas. On the other hand, industrial design is not so refined in that the wellbeing of thousands of people relies squarely on the broad shoulders of the architect who painstakingly creates a sound and lasting structure.

Industrial designers must recreate the industry with every piece they create. Always looking for new and innovative materials to meld, twist, and mold to our creative whims, the industrial designer must go through many frustrating and wearisome failures in order to produce that one piece that both reflects and channels the creative spirit of the designer. This cannot be taught, no matter how in tune we are to the history of the artists that have come before us. It is a matter of self-discovery and commitment that we will eventually find our culmination point and be able to express in full the creativity that has been brimming within our souls.

This release of creative energy can be found in the innovative light fixtures and chandeliers of the Iris Design Studio. For more information about the Iris Design Studio, please visit www.IrisDesignStudio.com.