Design Entropy

Throughout this text, I will use the term "design" as a broad definition of the human capacity to create new things. From physical objects to abstractions, such as forms of communication, connections, relationships, environmental impact, etc. We design everything.

We used to have significant undertakings that inevitably led to the greatest works of early civilizations. They provide us with a perfect example of what has the best basis for such an approach. One of the characteristics they possess is a sense of timeless design, with some of the greatest works still standing today.

The past

Let's take the Egyptian pyramids as an example. Built more than 2,000 years ago, it is an enterprise with a clear vision, harmony, and precision that attracts the interest of people from all parts of the world. They symbolize the power of the civilization that existed at that time. Quality design created using a lot of energy and time is the definition of perfection. If we go through the basics of entropy, we see that the pyramids are one of the oldest examples of a work that endures even after all this time. The very thought of making something on such a large scale carried out by the generations that built it and that it has such an impact says a lot.

The present

Thousands of years later, we have progressed enough to create more complex works. This was made possible by machines, technology, and the globalization of the entire industry. Access to various materials and mass production has led us to a reduced quality, even where there is no need for it - cheap hyperproduction. We can access all possible production methods but still recycle existing ideas.

Attached are a couple of vivid examples of our originality:

The chance that modern buildings remain where they are after two millennia is zero.

Perhaps this is only the beginning of the end. Something similar to the Paperclip Maximiser Theory, where, over the last few decades, we have seen exponential growth in the production of useless, unoriginal, and low-quality things. This phenomenon can be seen everywhere; buildings are just one example in a series. It happens with buildings, bridges, roads, houses, parks, interiors, clothes, screens, food, books, paper, words, thoughts, ideas, etc.

The future

I can't see a middle ground, and I don't see a victory for just one side either. I only know that the lasting foundation must be based on a timeless approach to the design of everything around us, whatever form it takes. We can only have such a design if the foundation is sound. This way, we can build the system we could always have. High-quality, original, and long-lasting.