Information IS the Design

"With the electronic music instrument, any tone can be made available in any intensity and for any length of time. Note that the older symphony was, by comparison, a machine of separate instruments that gave the effect of organic unity . With the electronic instrument, one starts with organic unity as an immediate fact of perfect synchronization. This makes the attempt to create the effect of organic unity quite pointless. Electronic music must seek other goals."

Marshall McLuhan; Understanding Media.

In the Industrial Age, information described the designed product.
End of story.

In the Information Age, information describes the designed product, then it becomes the design.
Information IS the design process and the product.
Buildings + Information = Transformation.
Count the computing power.
Today's motor car can fly further than the Apollo spacecraft.
Count the material cost.
The electronics add more to the cost of today's motor car than the steel.
How intelligent is your car?
House?
Washing machine?
Diary?
Desk?
Trousers?
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Related Articles: Data and Design: Peter Drucker describes the transformation from data crunching to information thinking. In this article we consider the implications for architects.

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