StartupCafe

We all need to be able to express ourselves.  Some people like to write and others may prefer to act, sing or talk a lot in front of an audience.  But what if you’re a computer-programming, hoody-wearing, gameplaying geek?  What’s your mode of self-expression?

Techie geeks have the same need for self-expression.  Sometimes, the rest of society makes fun of geeky, techie types who put their heart and soul into product development without acknowledging that the technology products that they come up with are a representation of their inner mental/emotional workings and creativity.  Product designers and developers are often criticised for falling in love with and waxing lyrical about product features but why must we deride them for taking pride and pleasure in such things?  Is there no room to enjoy their efforts from an artistic point of view?

As I’ve mentioned, some people use dance to reveal themselves and others may use sports or painting as modes of self-expression.  Can we think of technology design and development in the same way?  I’m just wondering because I attend lots of technology focussed events and often observe criticism aimed at start-up techies for not considering their target audience and for not designing and developing products with business problems in mind – for coming up with a product first and then looking for a problem to solve with it. 

I know that we need to look at technology product design & development from a commercialisation point of view – I’ll cover that another time.  But from a human point of view, gosh how frustrating it must be when you are inspired to come up with a product and then get told that it is useless because it is not commercially viable.  We don’t have to look at everything through the same lens, do we?