Walter Gropius  

I did not know....
this about Walter Gropius, although I have often wonderd why he did not illustrate his manifestos etc. himself,....it is true, very few sketches of his are known.
It reases an interesting question that you so clearly indicated by commenting: "there is hope for us". They day we will have the courage to answer DCWilson's challenge on developing a design philosophy, the first thing we would have to say is that designs origins rooted in the human capability to imagine other and hopefully better living conditions than the ones at hand. Design of course concentrates more on the material conditions but this capacity to imagine is what makes us human. It therefore can not be seen as the specific responsability of one or a few particular professions. What you are pointing out is that it should not and has not been restricted to those who have a talent for "visualizing" what they imagine. My fear has always been that our system both the educational and society in general has the tendency to give credit only to those who can visualize. My ongoing batttle against claiming intellectual property left right and center is part of that vision, because generating ideas is usually not the end of the process. Many interesting and original designs are made by people that could visualize their concepts, but that are incapable of pushing the concept further into a development stage that would benefit more people. My reasons behind advocating a wider recognition of society's role in generating these concepts (by educating designers, by inspiring designers with all other forms of culture, by providing them with appropriate technology etc.) is that is should also open the possibility for others and more capable people to improuve on ideas without being accused op intellectual property fraud are stealing. I know that it is a lost battle and many young and old contributors to this forum have opposed my views on this vigerously. I do not mind, some point of views just have to be kept alive, even if they have little public support.
My view is that the capacity of using ones imagination to envision a better world is something we all share and no professional interest or economical gain should stand in the way of participating in the process, each and everyone according to capacity.

Koen
My view is that the capacity of using ones imagination to envision a better world is something we all share and no professional interest or economical gain should stand in the way of participating in the process, each and everyone according to capacity.
" Never truer words said "

It still amazes me How one ...
It still amazes me How one could get that far in that profession with out being able to draw or the aid of computer generated programs .
Now a tattoo artist I could understand, but a architect who later became world famous that is simply amazing.
...... sidebar........ I guess it could happen today with all the computer design programs available.

I just read
a piece on Rem Koolhaas (New Yorker, 3/05) which says he doesn't draw. He chooses among options (often sketch models) prepared by his staff. He's 62 now. He was going to be a film maker. . .
I believe HH Richardson was another architect who didn't draw -- other than some wonderful little preliminary blotches. As long as you can direct others to the desired result, it's all the same, I guess.
Koen, what would you say of a ceramist who couldn't throw on the wheel ? (I am one who agrees completely with your view, by the way; the ideas are all already out there, and we are only their interpreters and custodians. Koolhaas says he doesn't care where the ideas his office uses come from -- it could be himself or a new employee.)

Hi SDR...
Just a short story of a ceramist not being able to use a potter's wheel...When I met David Leach the last time we talked about the achievements and influence of his father Bernard and how he almost single handed revived studio pottery. At one point David, slower because of his 93 or 94 years at the time, but still as bright as ever said: "You know my father was not very good at the wheel, but he was a very charismatic man..."
The more obvious example is of course Picasso's ceramics...he never even tried to work on the wheel.

The exception to the rule.
Good designer and bad sketcher, is the exception to the rule.
A design teacher would agree, that most of the times, when there is an excellent student in ,,Design subject,, he/she is also an excellent student in ,,Sketching/Drawing subject,,
Fortunately there are good exceptions.

I agree
Koen, I absolutely agree with your point of view. (as well as LRF and SDR)
This is the second time I heard about it. (The first time was in your Essay. I,ll answer there)
This forum is the great in the world, but nevertheless has some things to be improved. This is one, reading threads, a contributor/reader have a general impression, that it,s no the real one. LOTS of examples in my mind. And this one is one of the biggers.
When you said:
,,contributors to this forum have opposed my views on this vigorously,,
Do you remember where was that been discussed?, may be it wasn,t been discussed enough. ..
Anybody remember where it was?