Digital is one of the most important aspects of our lives in the 21st century. It has become an inseparable extension of our selves and given us the opportunity, for the first time in history, to limitlessly explore who and what we are, and who and what we want to become. We have been able to connect on levels previously unimaginable, completely unencumbered by limitations of locale. For this we have to thank the creators of digital.
In order to help us orient to where we are and where we have come from, this book provided an overview of the emergence of digital, its changing role, and the effects and implications of digital on the realization of the potential of our future. We, as digital designers, play a crucial role in helping our species shift from legacy constraints of the past, and to shape the formation of our future. Our practice has evolved with the needs of the collective, and it is my sincere hope that the perspectives outlined in this book are able to assist the journey.
The following is a brief summary of the topics explored in each chapter.
In Chapter 1, “Digital Evolution,” we looked at how digital technology has come to be such a prominent feature in modern life. The chapter looks in detail at the process of the coevolution of humans and technology, using the meta-theoretical framework of Universal Darwinism in order to view the four core passages of information evolution: biology, technology, culture, and cognition. The chapter provides digital designers with a perspective on digital that places it in context of human evolution, and evolution of information more broadly. The core question that the chapter aims to address: how might we design for purposeful and meaningful change and, most importantly, assume our full responsibility in creating and driving these changes?
Chapter 2, “Evolution of Identity,” further addresses this question, by focusing on the core driver of human decision making: their identity. The chapter provides a conceptualization of identity suitable for digital designers and explores how human identity has been extended and transformed through technology (specifically digital). We explore the important shift in identity from static to procedurally generated identities and the impact this shift has had on users. This chapter also looks at the evolution of identity and explores the differences between assigned and enacted identities. Ultimately, the chapter provides a foundation for strategically using identity in digital design and outlines implications of the formation of digital identity on local and global social dynamics.
Chapter 3, “Designing for Evolving Users,” further extends the discussion of identity in digital design by providing a perspective on how to design digital products and/or services for evolving users. The chapter begins to unravel what it means to be a digital designer in the 21st century and the responsibilities that digital designers face when creating products and services. We look at digital design as designing intangible “experiences” rather than tangible, static “objects.” We also explore how the role of users changed from “passive” to “active” and the implications of this shift on the practice of digital design. The role of digital designers is argued to extend the reach of the user such that they have complete control of the experience and its outcomes and that the core of what we are actually extending in digital design is the “mind.” The chapter also provides a summary of core digital design principles and processes.
In Chapter 4, “Design Thinking in Action,” we look at a specific type of digital design approach: Design Thinking. The chapter provides a brief overview of Design Thinking and a summary of how the approach can be applied to digital design. The value of Design Thinking is derived from the rapid evolution of ideas and evidence-based design decisions, which are argued as vital for successful design in this field. The chapter also provides a high-level summary of a Design Thinking toolkit and how to apply this toolkit to design higher-quality products and services. The chapter aims to provide digital designers just starting out with practical guide on how to design for real needs of real humans.
Chapter 5, “Design for Change,” looks at how we might strategically design for change. The chapter provides an overview of what it means to strategically design digital and revisits the role of digital in modern life. We explore how we might design to improve quality of life through the products and/ services that we create. Specifically, we look at how we might evolve identity through digital. The chapter also provides a simple exercise on how to map your own identity: a self-reflective tool vital for all designers. We also explore how we can monitor and design for change through paradigms and paradigm shifts over time.
Finally, Chapter 6, “Digital Trends,” looks at the significant digital trends over the past century. The chapter focuses specifically on automation, information communication technology, and artificial intelligence. The chapter also provides a high-level discussion of the impact of exponential digital progress on life. The important focal point is that, as digital designers, we changed not only what but how and why we create digital products and/or services. The chapter highlights that we, as creators of digital, have also shifted from focus on technical aspects of technology creation to design of technology. The chapter also looks at the shifting concept of value and argues that for successful design we must aim to align through core values rather than through any other means. The chapter concludes with the exploration of the intersection of identity, paradigms, and digital. We see the value of digital transformation in the capacity to change the core paradigms that we operate through and suggest that progress can only be truly felt through paradigm change.
Each chapter provides an exploration of a component of digital design, and the intent is to help shift perspectives to allow for better and more strategic digital design to emerge. These discussions are by no means extensive but serve as a basis for future exploration, discussion, and evolution of the practice.
Thank you for coming on the journey of digital design. Our future is better for it.