Wheels of progress can set our planet in motion

Whatever the vehicle, Paul Priestman, designer and Co-founding Director of PriestmanGoode, is passionate about transportation design. Speaking at Business of Design Week, Priestman shows images of interesting designs for aeroplane seats for the disabled, among others. It’s no surprise that the thoughtful, award-winning designer was voted one of London’s 1,000 most influential people by the Evening Standard newspaper – he wants to make a change.

When it comes to problem solving and creativity, Priestman looks back to playschool. “Have you ever seen a child play with Lego? When you’re four or five, you’re an artist or designer. But what happens? Where does it go?” he asks. He believes that everyone can draw – which is true, if you take judgment out of the picture – and you can link creativity with ideas that can be taught. “Anyone can try it. I used pencils as a child, but now, four-year-olds use devices to play 3D modelling games. Kids also mature earlier because of the information they’re fed, through the media and the internet. I wonder if we’ll look back at this time and think it was crazy?”

And then there’s another effect of the modern tech world that concerns Priestman. “I worry that people don’t think enough without being interrupted by a click on the phone. Or that ‘research’ is just page one of a Google search. I think that can affect design,” he says. At PriestmanGoode, brainstorming sessions mean being locked away without interruption – even from e-mail. This dedication to thought is important to him. “If more people were trained as designers, the world would be a better place, because designers think about other people all the time – we’re always looking and learning,” Priestman argues.

Priestman observes that nowadays design is recognised as a real profession and is considered a good job that can carry a comfortable salary. His company sponsors a number of design awards, particularly in transportation, and also aids the (John) Sorrel Foundation which runs the Saturday Club. “John used to go to a Saturday class on design, and loved it, so he asked designers like us to give up some time to teach students, to give them an idea of professional design,” Priestman explains. Each class is a day project, such as a large plan of an aeroplane which students team up to design a portion of each. “This club has changed people’s decisions on their future professions,” he says.

Workshops are another way for Priestman to use design as an option for a solution. “Design has absolutely everything to do with solving some of the biggest problems in the world,” he declares. As a transport specialist, he is aware that world issues like a growing population affect living standards and communities, and he has to plan far ahead. “Getting more people onto trains is important due to the population rise,” he explains. An existing system, such as the London Underground, needs costly work in order to make it function better, By 2020, the Tube will be using new trains that are 60 percent more efficient than now.

So why upgrade a system that is over 150 years old in some parts? “You need sustainability, especially with a growing population. Trains can be electric – the new ones store electricity locally, and can pass their energy to a passing train or another train on same track,” Priestman says.