Brief

<p>Mr. Paul Bennett, chief creative officer at IDEO speaks of design and how it is fueled by curiosity and hope. He says that design is similar to governments; it works better when it allows people to participate in the process.</p> <p>&ldquo;Government is just design,&rdquo; Bennett says, &ldquo;but at a really big scale.&rdquo; He presents his experience with IDEO during which he sought to spread the culture of creativity. He had a vision of using creativity to make life better. He gives examples of how allowing people to take part in designing serves as means for a better life as in Innova Schools in Peru that provided at low costs a rival to schools in richest countries. In Singapore, IDEO contributed to the development of procedures for people getting into the country. Bennett sought to ease bureaucratic process, replacing the process experience with design experience where people are encouraged to participate.</p> <p>Bennett gives more examples of how design and creativity can enrich life in poor communities. The wall IDEO built in Congo to be a platform for information sharing and improvement. The wall has effectively become a network of humans, replacing modern social media not available in such a poor country. Bennett stresses the effect of design on the quality of life. &ldquo;Design,&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;&hellip; is gardening; planting seeds of hope, and letting people harvest them&rdquo;.</p> <p>Bennett explains that optimism and hope are the most powerful design tools we have. He quotes Carlos Rodriguez Pastor to illustrate his idea: &ldquo;The wealth of a country is measured by its people.&rdquo; Bennet urges governments to promote the participation of people and to nurture dreams to combat radicalism.</p>

Speakers

---