from stuff to platforms

A blog post on Panopticon was talking about how working with 'future scenarios' provides a contextual source of inspiration in developing new concepts for products/services/experiences. The article suggests that recent insights indicate a shift in thinking from designers who now seem more inclined to build upon existing infrastructure or platforms for solutions. This is 180 degrees from when innovation and creativity were solely associated with the building of new stuff. Designers concerned with sustainability have taken a more critical stance on building new objects/products — instead, think apps, modular components, open source. Future challenges will be more complex and deal more with behavioral change — shifting focus from object-based, to people-based. As I say, it's all about me.