Design for culture

How can cultural factors be put on the agenda of design engineers? Does "design" transcend the universally applicable laws of physics? Much of what engineers do is solve problems and make decisions. In fact the engineering profession is constantly making a series of decisions. The process of decision making is far more complex than the process of problem solving. Complicating factors such as culture, ethnicity, globalization, and ethics should play a prominent role. Design, the cross-fertilization of science and art, is a basic function of all species that occupy a masterfully orchestrated and designed ecosystem in which man is but one. On the other hand, culture with its complex mix is the expression of what a group of people creates - arts, beliefs customs, institutions, products and thought - at a particular time within the context of the natural environment. Design and culture therefore are intimately linked and undoubtedly influence each other. This suggests that designers, with their creative problem solving skills and keen interest to preserve nature and advance quality of life are capable of influencing culture in a positive way. This paper highlights some aspects of the design-culture interface and asserts that designers can help fashion a peaceful world. The paper also presents two possible ways to achieve this underlying objective: 1) to develop artifacts that reduce the negative impact of certain cultural practices on the society, and 2) to create educational tools that lead to the realization of the absurdities of some cultural inclinations and their eventual abandonment.