Learning from John Rheinfrank:Reflections on Acquiring a Design Language

摘要

The language I learned from John has provided me a lens through which I could take seriously my direct and indirect experiences and use them in my design process. Whereas form was second nature to me as a young designer, now the intent, behaviors, beliefs, and desires of people motivate me. And I'm not alone. The next generation of practitioner and product that John envisioned and began to shape 15 years ago is now the status quo, a palpable realization of the essence of his theory proposing that if design languages are done right, they can assimilate into people's routines and the broader culture of use: "Design languages typically are most influential when they have become deeply embedded, when people can unconsciously assume they are valid and can continue to act through them, rather than think about their appropriateness" [1].