The Lost Questions: Asking the things that we have left behind

Where would creativity go if the world was really designed to be effective and efficient?

I can’t help but wonder at the missed expression, missed humanity, in this proposed sleek architectural world we seem to be aspiring to.

What if I don’t want smart cities?

What if I want wise cities instead!

Don’t get me wrong, we’re on the cusp of something profound.

Yet I can’t help but wonder: what if this effective, efficient, politeness becomes the very thing that dulls our edges?

I can see the design:

· Cool, crisp, minimalistic.

· Streamlined landscape gardens.

· Marketing the new Utopia.

Filled with:

· Packaged convenience.

· Dressed up expectations and automated experiences.

Sigh!

Hey. Could we do that again?

I know we haven’t met, but I don’t want to be an ant, you know?

I mean, it’s like we go through life with our antennas bouncing off one another, continuously on ant auto-pilot with nothing really human required of us. Stop. Go. Walk here. Drive there. All action basically for survival. All communication simply to keep this ant colony buzzing along in an efficient polite manner.

“Here’s your change.” “Paper or plastic?” “Credit or debit?” “You want ketchup with that?”

I don’t want a straw, I want real human moments. I want to see you. I want you to see me. I don’t want to give that up. I don’t want to be an ant, you know?

My Favourite “Waking Life” Quote

While everyone else wants to teach us how to settle down, settle in, and be more effective, I’m not sure that’s where the real opening is …

Don’t get me wrong, there a lot of experts would love this real estate to claim models, trademarks, and have the one and only answer. The rightest one. I'm not looking for answers. I could dig up those too. I’m more curious about the questions we are not asking. The ones we are leaving behind. That is where the real design process actually comes to life.

Dontcha think?

What inspired this mind spew: I was listening to a podcast that painted a picture of paradise. A world where everything worked and happened for itself. I don’t feel the need to name the podcast nor that reference because I realize this article isn’t personal. For me it’s structural. Besides, it’s hard to critique something that one doesn’t know. (If you really think about it). But the points that screamed out, with compulsion were this NuWorlds’ seamless perfection. It felt poignant and appealing. Like something alluring — almost Great Gatsby-esque. And yet, inside of me, there was this growing rift. This insatiable feeling that something meaningful could be forever lost to the human experience. That this Utopian first world wonder (putting robots aside) already has designed us out of the equation. This space doesn’t feel welcoming, whole, or true. Its sterile conditions felt jarring on my skin. Its just get by attitude — felt like broken homes, disconnected families, and missed communication. And I couldn’t help but look at the sleek greyness and feel the pangs of sadness. The part no advertising brochure dare publish.

Bear with me on this.

It’s still settling in my toes.

Here’s the question that I’m really scared to ask:

When does our humanity become obsolete?

We’re headed there.

Fast.

Some might even say we are there already.

We have removed from our environment, our instinct, intuition, tactile senses, and humanity.

At what point do we step back in?

Do we even want to?

And yes, I love to see that workspace cultures are starting to care. And BrandCulture isn’t something that’s left to the Ad Executives. Brilliant. I’m in. I’m all in for that. (See my website) yet, this isn’t about that. It’s about a choice. A different kind of choice that I don’t know is part of the conversation.

The choice to go artificial is now. It has nothing to do with robotics. And while our world might not make it without the magic of systems — at what point isn’t it progress anymore?

I guess I just don’t want us to forget something important, you know.

I guess I’m not that willing to become that ant either. To label that progress of the human condition when there’s nothing honestly human required of it.

I choose to be part of Team Human.

Anyone want to play with that?

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