Just as corporate competitiveness issues are more frequently dotting the economic landscape, where economists and politicians are perpetually, and somewhat in vain, setting up more Ministries, commissions and committees around “economic recovery plans” in a dire attempt to whisk Western …
Month: December 2016

Education: Design, Creativity and Knowledge
The recent debates on the topic of education heating up in several countries across Europe, and particularly in France, are quite worrying. More than ever, the clash of civilizations, values and beliefs is taking on mammoth proportions and turning our …

“No MOOC (*)? You’re a moron (*)!”
“MOOCs” are in. Every college and school across the board has one: “No MOOC? You’re a moron.” What lies in store for universities and select business, engineering, and scientific schools once every ounce of knowledge will be available 24/7 online? …

Design and Corporate Social Responsibility: A matter of morals or personal gain?
<!–:en–>A recent presentation given to the Regional Leaders of Western France led me not only to reflect on what binds Corporate Social Responsibility to the Design field, but also question the role that the designer plays there within. What if …

“Made in France” takes backseat to “Designer by France”
When it comes to buying a car, or anything else for that matter composed of spare parts, what exactly does “Made in France” mean? Does this notion not go against the flow of French industry? Is there not something else …

The sky’s the limit: The career of “in house” designers
The 2nd Annual “Design, mode d’emploi” Forum was held on December 10, 2014 at the Paris Commodities Exchange. It was the chance to highlight the growing interest that businesses are showing in “in house” Designer career paths. This interest …

Design school: the school for the managers of tomorrow
In 1994, professors from HEC published a book entitled, “SCHOOL FOR THE MANAGERS OF TOMORROW.” Its focus was on pondering the changes in teachings, methods of learning, frameworks, and more generally, how the changes in the environment and with regard …

FDE Manifesto
The Design Moment
At a time when an entire country – France, and perhaps an entire continent – Europe, is asking itself questions about its identity and future in an open and unstable world, it seems important to take a …

Design: All-in-one and One-for-all
AEF’s upcoming colloquium, “Arts, Design, Fashion: The New Frontier of Higher Education”*, has triggered discussion over the potential for transversality between Design schools and universities especially as creative disciplines in France have not traditionally been academic ones.
Design has never …

Design and Leadership?
Design has crossed over into a strategic dimension. In organizations that have made innovation their modus operandi, designers have no other choice but to assert themselves as leaders there within.
If, just a few years back, it was almost unheard …