Clever.

Inspector Jacques Clouseau, the famed detective launched in the 1960’s, embodies the idea of cleverness. He was a master of design improvisation, adapting quickly to come up with a new approach without straying from the original concept. This is a valuable skill in design where unforeseen challenges arise.

He utilized the most current technology to go beyond his own capacity to see clues…the handheld magnifying glass. But it only worked if his hand was holding it and his eyes were peering through the lens. It didn’t work without him.

With the lightning-speed invention of technology in 2023, we need to use our current advances for the original purpose of design - to help people live better lives. We need to hold on and keep our eyes looking through to see the subjects most critical to solving the problem. Technology is still just a tool to “design for life.” It’s cleverness comes from the human utilizing it.