There’s an interesting theme at this year’s IDSA International Conference being held in Portland, OR. It’s DIY Design: Threat or Opportunity?

The conference is exploring a number of topics around this theme, but one that is particularly interesting to the field of design and innovation is the topic of Enabling Technologies. With sophisticated software and prototyping capabilities now readily available, do we still need professional designers? Or, can anyone with the technology create market winning innovation?

Short answer? Yes, and…No.

Professional designers are still needed because they’re trained in a variety of skills beyond the use of just 3D modeling and prototyping technologies. These skills include critical thinking, problem solving, and process skills around design innovation, that simply can’t be captured in a software program, regardless of its sophistication. To say anyone can design a complex product solution that meets all usability, market, and production requirements without the appropriate training and experience, is similar to saying I can fly a jetliner by only buying a flight simulator program.