Inhabitat: We’re entering an era where everyone is becoming more and more digitized and connected to technological devices, and I think it’s changing the way that people interact with each other. Are you concerned at all about how this is impacting people’s lives and social behavior?
Paola Antonelli: I’m not. The funny thing is that that same argument was heard also at the beginning of the 20th century with the introduction of the telephone. Every time there’s a so called “disruptive innovation” people are worried and rightly so. There’s consequences to a change in behavior and being able to always be in connection. But at the same time, you need to stimulate good design.
And good design is not only pretty objects, it’s good behavior, it’s a better balance between technology and human beings. Every time there’s an innovation, it’s called disruptive for a reason because it creates a problem. It creates a rupture, it creates a break in both an individual routine and in the way people have interacted with each other for centuries. So design can help this disruption become part of life, integrated into life faster and better. That’s what we like to think of designers as – as the people that make revolutions become life.
Great interview. Love Paolo Antonelli – such an inspiration to creatives!
Hey Dan-
I don’t Paola is saying that there is ‘no impact’ from disruptive innovation – just that there are positive and negative consequences and we just have to be open, as a society, to change, because it is going to happen, whether we like it or not.
-Jill
This looks like an amazing exhibit – I’m bummed I can’t make it out to see it!
it’s interesting how Paola find’s no reservations in the increasing digital world and how it may affect human interactions and thoughts, to me everything affects everything, our views of products right now and how society works was greatly affected by the industrial revolution, why not the digital one?
Can’t wait to check this out. I really enjoyed Paola’s discussion on past and current relationships between “disruptive innovations”!
Great interview! I love the pieces that Antonelli pulls out as examples in the exhibit — the Tweenbot is so cute!
Wow what an inspiring interview! I’m fascinated by the concepts being explored in this exhibit, and I cannot wait to go.
Yet another awesome video. Completely unrelated, but love the outfit choice too.