ICM - Leeds Design Agency

Its Design & Technology Week. Time to crack open the thing and do that thing that you were going to … erm … and then … Its what? And when?


Well the official version of it is here if you want to have a look


So what does it have to do with you? Nothing (for the most part). Your life will continue on the way it has and this thing will happen without you. Unless you are involved, motivated and in that sector – in which case I wish you all the best.

So what about you bunch of nose-pickers out there? Design and Technology? Ooh – sounds complicated … I can’t even get my Sky+* to work properly … Sound familiar?

I ask that you change your attitude, just for this week. Design and Technology Week – yes, this week, no you can’t put it off until next week. This week … This year … now.


I would like you to look around and pick one project – one thing that is design and technology based and make yourself better at it. This could be a project that you have yet to start, an item that you own, a problem or bottleneck that seems unimportant until you run into it again, and then you just work round it.

Here are just a few examples:
• Set up that wireless network at home
• Getting all your music on to that MP3 Player
• Finally download and tagging your photos on the computer
• Find out what Blogs, RSS and Twitter are all about

You may encounter a few small problems in your attempt but once you have completed your mini challenge you will feel relief and a little bit of pride, you will have taught yourself a new skill. Your MP3 will have a more professional feel and not just say ‘Track 1, Track 2.’ You never know – this may even start to chip away at some other technophobic worries that you may have, encourage you to have a go. Shun taking the easy route before you have even taken the first step. Fortune favours the brave, take little steps and see what you can do … you WILL be surprised.

And those who already have the skills and knowledge – pass it on, don’t mock or ridicule someone for not using the technology to its full potential or understanding something that is second nature to you. (Shame on you if you do this, least of all THIS week.) Instead, have patience, empathise and take time to understand how people work (or in some cases don’t work) with design and technology.

If you try it and don’t like it… at least you can say that you participated in ‘Design and Technology Week’.

(*Insert other technical sounding device/service as appropriate)