Dear Designer
A collaborative poem from the Class of 2022 to round out our Q1 theory course in “Public Sector, Innovation, & Impact”, from us to you:
Dear Designer,
1
Design is scary
Because it can change the world
In ways you don’t know.
Design is power
Giving power to others
Creates more power
Design is caring
Caring is sharing the wealth
The wealth of enough
Tell me a story
Of positive deviance, and
Listen with intent.
we design the world
like a snake eating its tail
it designs us back
Design is justice
And the Designer is grace.
Design is us
Designing for all
Is not unattainable
It just takes our hearts
Listening to you
Will show me what we can do
And we will do it
2
With climate change and the threat of nuclear war, is it about to strike midnight?
It’s time to reimagine how we’re caring for our communities, future generations, and our planet.
Time is a human construct. The world has no time.
The night is tiring, but I must keep working so that I can feel worthy when morning comes.
Time to turn toward community interdependence
Time to tear down the system and try again.
Time to stop sleeping through our alarms.
3
I hear the bees buzz
Trees an endless horizon
The rain smells like life
Morning dew before everyone wakes up at the campground.
Laughter in the forest
…losing your sense of smell due to covid.
A place of belonging, A seat at the table.
My mom’s homemade dumplings.
Hugging friends.
Playing games.
Sleep.
Drinks around a campfire with friends
WOW everyone is so positive
Tasting fresh veggies from the garden (when I finally have time to plant things during our break)
4
Trees are marvelous and offer us clean air to breathe.
“Grace is the breath that we take on our journey, so we don’t pass the fuck out.” (Justin Boyce)
Why are we here now?
Let’s keep our vision steady
Bloom from inside out
It’ll be okay, even if you don’t think it will be.
Just think to yourself, will this matter in 10 years?
If the answer is no, then don’t sweat it.
You did the work to tell this story.
Remember to tell your people that you love them.
Remember that “it’s just a ride”.