Howells.

I talk about Cameron Koczon so much on this blog that it might look a little like too much bromance is in the air. But I’d go as far to say he’s one of the most inspiring characters in our industry right now, and he’s doing more than most to promote the role and importance of the designer in start-up land.

If you haven’t seen him talk live (at his conference, Brooklyn Beta, for instance or at tomorrow’s New Adventures in Web Design), I think this A List Apart article by him captures much of Cameron’s belief.

The web is going to increasingly shape our world and consequently our daily lives. We can either sit on the sidelines and submissively assist those who are doing the shaping or we can take a more active role in creating the future we want. This year, thanks to a spike in demand, designers have a chance to actively nudge the world in any direction they like. It’s a huge opportunity with a tiny window. Let’s not let it pass by.

While I agree with everything he says, the issue of solving bigger problems is something I talked about in a previous post. In our typical cosy worlds it’s tricky to identify the right problems to solve with the skills we have at our disposal, and thereon how to pull the right group of individuals together to help create solutions. And let’s not forget about funding: while so many solutions can be prototyped easily, a viable product needs funding and/or access to a good network of influencers to which many of us have little access (particularly in London, and the UK, I would argue).

I’m excited that some agencies and people have taken up the challenge to facilitate projects for good via design and technology (such as the guys from the new London-based agency, Betabüro who I met recently) but I feel there’s another conversation to be had about how we actually do and deliver, now that we all agree about the importance of design in start-ups.

☛