Farm to table design: our growing distance from software creation

The consequences of a disconnection from Production

Farm to Table Food

In today's fast-paced world, we often forget to stop and think about the origins of the things we consume. This is especially true when it comes to our food. We've become so accustomed to the convenience of having everything readily available at our fingertips that we forget about the intricate processes that go into making them.

We no longer have to hunt or gather our food, and we rarely have to think about where it comes from. Instead, we rely on grocery stores and restaurants to provide us with the food we need to survive. This has led to a lack of appreciation for the hard work and dedication that goes into producing the food we eat.

Farm to Table Design

Similarly, with the rise of technology, we've become increasingly reliant on software to make our lives easier. We use apps and websites to communicate, shop, and entertain ourselves without giving much thought to the complex coding and programming that goes into creating them. We've become so accustomed to the convenience that technology offers, we often forget about the human effort and understanding required to make it all possible.

Tools like ChatGPT (and other large language models) and Webflow have made it easier than ever to create software without having to understand the underlying code. While this is undoubtedly a great convenience, it also risks widening the gap between design and realization of the software, often leading to a lack of comprehension and appreciation for what's happening behind the scenes.

Understanding how it's built

As designers rely more heavily on design and automation tools, the understanding of how their designs get translated into built units through code dwindles. This lack of understanding could influence not only the quality of the design but also the effectiveness of the collaboration between designers and developers.

By understanding the underlying code, designers can anticipate how their designs will be implemented, leading to more informed decisions on layout, typography, and user experiences. Not only does this make designers more effective collaborators with developers, but it also enhances their value within the team by increasing the depth of their skills.

Plenty of resources are available to help designers embarking on the coding journey, with online courses, coding boot camps, and YouTube tutorials providing firm foundations. Ethical Computing: Holding Technology Accountable

Trusting Automation Blindly

Another vital consideration for designers and users alike is the risk of over-relying on automated tools without comprehending their inner workings. As we move further and further away from an intimate understanding of these complex processes, we might unwittingly place excessive trust in their capabilities to produce robust, efficient, and ethical solutions.

A deeper understanding of how these platforms function behind their user-friendly interfaces can help mitigate the risks of blind trust. It allows us to better evaluate the outputs and the potential ethical implications that could emerge from their usage. While we can't all be experts in every technological tool we use, a foundational level of comprehension helps pave the way for a more responsible and informed use of technology.

The Need for Awareness and Responsibility

Everything we consume, from food to technology, has a story originating in human effort and invention. By taking a moment to appreciate the origins of the products we consume, we can develop a greater appreciation for the world. In demanding responsibility from the creators and setting high standards for ethical implications, we can ensure that our reliance on technology also feeds into a better world.