From Taylorism to Tailor Made

The high point of todays eventful day was without a shadow of a doubt the exceptional conference at the symposium. The symposium, boasting a splendid view of the Golden Gate, Alcatraz and San Francisco Bay in general, was the perfect canvas on which to paint the picture of Innovating with Beauty. The conference got off to a lively start with Dale Dougherty, Editor and Publisher of MAKE, and general manager of the Maker Media division of O’Reilly Media Inc. acting as moderator. After presenting a 3D ray gun, that gave an idea of the potential of 3D printing, he proceeded to introduce speakers and foment discussions thanks to his high level of expertise in the field.

Piero Bassetti took the floor with enlightening remarks on the nature of innovation and the fact that to innovate is not simply to invent, but to implement said inventions. Furthermore, innovation is also about who has the responsibility for/of innovating. This responsibility is something that the Fondazione Bassetti takes to heart and has been attempting to act upon for decades. Intertwined with this is the idea of beauty and how innovation must also be beautiful on top of functional. The rise of the makers has to answer these challenges.

Following Piero Bassetti it was the turn of Chris Anderson. His contributions both highlighted the intrinsic cultural differences between italian and american approaches to design, including discrepancies in the idea and concept of beauty, whilst at the same time giving a sense of unity and shared values. Ideas such as the necessity for ugliness so as to reach beauty were also particularly interesting. Most of all Chris Anderson was able to stimulate dialogue on the question of makers and their growing importance which resulted in a lively debate.

Stefano Micelli, Giulio Ceppi and many other contributors raised issues and thematics that made the debate one of extreme value and interest. It is impossible to recount word for word and concept for concept what went on in the three hours of intense debating and exchange of thoughts and expertise but, suffice to say, that the ground work for future development of the incumbent Makers revolution is beginning to take shape.

Through collaboration and the identifying of problems that need to be solved the future of design and innovation are assured. These illustrious speakers have begun a dialectic that has the potential to lead positive change and the establishment of a new class of producer who is free from the capitalist model of patronage and wonership.

All those that attended the symposium and the many that were tuned in through the live streaming will have been inspired by what went on here today. It was a pleasure and an honor to attend an event that is sure to continue to evolve and form the backbone of future productive processes.

Below you can see the videos and some photos.

INDEX:

1. Saturday June 22, 2013. From Taylorism to Tailor Made – Symposium – part 1
– Mauro Battocchi, Consul General of Italy
– Dale Dougherty, Editor and Publisher of MAKE, and general manager of the Maker Media division of O’Reilly Media, Inc.
– Piero Bassetti, Giannino Bassetti Foundation
– Chris Anderson, Makers. The New Industrial Revolution
2. Saturday June 22, 2013. From Taylorism to Tailor Made – Symposium – part 2
– Dale Dougherty, Editor and Publisher of MAKE, and general manager of the Maker Media division of O’Reilly Media, Inc.
– Stefano Micelli, Futuro Artigiano
– Rodrigo Rodriquez, Flos
– Giovanni Lanzone, The Renaissance Link
– Tom Igoe, Arduino
3. Saturday June 22, 2013. From Taylorism to Tailor Made – Symposium – part 3
– Chris Anderson, Makers. The New Industrial Revolution
– Stefano Micelli, Futuro Artigiano
– Giulio Ceppi, Total Tool
– Luisa Collina, Politecnico Milano
– Alexander Rose, The Long Now Foundation
– Alberto Bertoli, AAU
4. Saturday June 22, 2013. From Taylorism to Tailor Made – Symposium – part 4
-Debate
5. photos