HOW TO DEAL WITH VISIONS

A vision is more than an idea: It is the representation of a coherent scenario that goes beyond concrete individual objects. A new drinking glass is not a vision, but may well be a more economical way of handling water. Nowadays, such visions are expected of us designers. How are we to deal with visions?

First of all, it should be clear that a vision actually stems from our own fantasy. Aren’t we too strongly influenced by trends or other people’s suggestions? And be careful with visions late at night…

The next thing is to find out, whether there are good questions, to which our vision provides an answer. It makes no difference, who asked these questions, or if we still have to ask them first. What can people do with our vision in the future? Are we going to create something of general benefit through it?

Our vision may possibly appear to be incompatible with existing circumstances. This can be related to the vision or the circumstances. We are free to overcome conventions and currently strictly-defined boundaries, if we are to convince our fellow men about it.

The freedom of our ideas stops with the freedom of other people. Are we certain that our vision will have no adverse economic, social or ecological impact on other people? We are responsible for its realization.

That we initially do not understand our vision too well in reality, indicates that we are venturing into new territory. It is up to us to throw safety to the winds, dare to take a first step and look around for knowledgeable assistance locally. This may not be easy to accept, but we learn from it.

If the realization of our vision transpires to be easy, be wary: have we simply fallen in love with the first idea to come along? Are there capable people who are assessing our intentions with a critical eye? Sharing our vision with other people makes its realization simpler and more gratifying.

We create conditions for achievements, which are ahead of their time. It is in the nature of things, that such achievements are only recognized as visionary after some time. A project for the future.

The images: in the Bolzano Beach project, the students did not design a new deck chair, but a complete beach, and built it in the middle of Bolzano, in front of the University.