DESIGNING A BETTER SOUTH AFRICA…

Design… A word that is often used and not really seen in a broad way. We see and understand design as ‘a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment or other objects before it is made’, as stated in the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Another problem that we are facing is, that we do not think of ourselves as designers, but as Gavin Mageni said design and creativity is intrinsic to all.

Intrinsic to design is the need to do good, the need to look at human nature and to make it a better place. In order for us to design a better South Africa we have to have thinking like designers.

South Africa is in war within its own borders..

What do you think will happen if we all start thinking like designers? Apply the thinking in whatever we do? This is where South Africa will become a better country.

Looking at the state of our socioeconomic area, South Africa is facing a few socioeconomic issues which are:

1. Poverty and inequality
2. Lack of education
3. Unemployment
4. Corruption

Wonder why these socioeconomic even exists? Due to the chasm in the country, whereby officials are given funding for service delivery but the community never receives some of the services. The problem is communication and the fact that knowledge is not shared, hence why South Africa needs to be redesigned. Co-creation is needed, designers are listeners and they deliver value. The golden key is through shared knowledge.

All of these issues can be eradicated if the use of Mr Litha Soyizwapi’s three lessons that he has learned a long his journey is put into good use

1. Start by learning the basic things and get a solid foundation  
2. Learn by doing and not just do things for the sake of doing, whilst in the process of doing one also has to learn
3. To each and everything one does, knowledge should be applied

Gavin Mageni said if research and development were to be taken and converted into intelligence that can be translated into a tangible product that can serve a particular need, that can serve economical value, then we’ll start seeing change.

Start looking at research for development not research and development.

We are all designer !

Dear Tebi, well done, and, you are spot on! Imagine for a moment... what would be the result if all of us realised the potential within us to redesign that which surrounds us, in order for it to reflect our true selves and the needs and aspirations of our communities? Your initiative to compare the design chasm with the chasm that exist in government, in between funding (tax payers money) and service delivery is brilliant! Now imagine the difference in that situation if such a gap was filled by effective policy and focused planning and service delivery! It could leave the citizens of South Africa in a whole different place. Great blog post. Keep up the good work! :)

PUMA 314 Students, I encourage you to engage with Tebi on the matters raised in this blog. Take the invitation and begin to imagine together,

Congratulations with your blog entry. It is very true, to become designers, we have to look intrinsic to ourselves. I am very glad that you, not only pointed out the problems we as a country face, but that you were also able to suggest solutions in order to work on these issues, and solve them in a sustainable manner. I am excited for your next post.
I gladly give you a grade of 80/100.

Dear Tebi, great work on your first blog entry! I love the way you you really focused on the concept of design. You were not only able to mention the socio-econmoic challenges we face but you were also able to come up with innovative solutions to fight these challenges, Congratulations!

Dear Tebi, well done on a successful blog. The socio-economic issues that you have highlighted are spot on.To answer your question on what will happen if we all started thinking like designers, well it that ever happens South Africa will then definitely be a country that is a creation of specifically constructed amazingness. If all of us could design a better South Africa and break through all issues whether it is economical, political and/or cultural. Congratulations fellow student!