A wicked problem is a form of social or cultural problem that is difficult to solve because of incomplete, contradictory, and changing requirements. These problems are typically offloaded to policy makers, or are written off as being too cumbersome to bother with. Yet these are the problems that plague our world and our cities - poverty, sustainability, equality and health and wellness are issues that touch each and every one of us.
These problems can be mitigated through the process of design - through an intellectual approach to design that emphasizes empathy, abductive reasoning, and rapid prototyping. These are the problems that are addressed at the Austin Center for Design.
Design is an iterative process of bringing an idea to reality; some call this facilitation, and others call this the act of managing creativity. Design education requires an appropriate balance between technology and aesthetics, and demands a great deal of commitment to making life better for people.
Designers aren't born with any sort of innate or special power that separates them from the rest of the world. While some may have an aptitude for drawing or a mind for problem solving, anyone can learn the design process and master the tools and techniques necessary to practice design.
