Today, I'm inviting us to take a break from COVID-19 themed tasks, and to think deeply in a different way...
Our task is inspired by a fascinating article I came across in Fortune called "The Greatest Designs of Modern Times." The link is at the end of this post - but don't look yet!!!
The article proposes the top 100 products since ~1970 that "have made our lives simpler, better, and...more stylish." How did they build the list?
--> Surveyed "educators, influencers, freelance designers, and corporate design teams."
--> Asked them to identify "creations they consider truly great."
--> Analyzed and synthesized the result into a top 100 list. The top 25, they say, are truly standout.
So, how can we think deeply about a Top 100 design list?
PART A
First, go ahead and embrace this very interesting prompt. Imagine that you had received the Fortune survey. Identify a personal "top 10" products that you believe are truly great creations - that have made human life simpler, better, and more stylish. If you're completing with friends, classmates, or family (I hope you are!), compare your lists with one another. What do you notice? What does the comparison reveal about your collective and individual thinking?
If you're looking for a bit of guidance / direction - this graphic gives good insight as to the "nature" of the Fortune list:
***"Returning" means that these 6 products appeared on a similar list produced in 1959.
PART B
Now, visit the actual article :) You can find it here: https://fortune.com/longform/100-best-design. Read through the list. Think about how it compares to your own - what's similar? What's different? Where did your selections land on the Fortune list? Which products on the list resonate with you - are you "surprised" that you "missed" any? What does the Fortune top 100 list reveal and/or challenge about your thinking?
PART C
Construct a brief "argument" to any aspect of the Fortune 100 list. This could be an argument to include a creation; to exclude a creation; or to rank a creation higher or lower than its current standing. Strive for concise but persuasive reasoning!
After this task, you might want to spend some time brainstorming a future top 100 creation of your own!!!!
Think Deeply, Share Broadly!
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