Network - by Dan Harel (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Consider a simple proposition: Everything that has been created can be improved upon. No object, system, or idea should continue to exist if it does not successfully fulfill the needs it was created for. In NETWORK: An Inclusive Approach to Design with a Focus on Access Technologies and Health Care, Dan Harel demonstrates how a firm vision, genuine will, and hard work can lead to innovative and meaningful improvements in the way we live and interact with each other. When these attributes are accepted and practiced within an educational system, their impact could be tenfold.

NETWORK is not a to-do list or a recipe to be followed; rather, it offers suggestions, tools, and a flexible model for those engaged in solving problems. Readers are encouraged to explore the enclosed case studies through the lens of their own particular circumstances or needs. While these case studies are focused on solutions for accessibility and health-care challenges, the book overall is intended for anyone engaged in any form of problem-solving and in guiding others in the process and techniques for doing so successfully.

About the Author

Dan Harel's fascination with design began as a child's simple curiosity for the way things work and with a wonder for the way they look. Disassembling and reassembling instruments such as old radio sets and bicycles were among his earliest passions. In parallel, he discovered an artistic passion for shaping and making objects to visualize his thoughts.

A graduate of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design and Cranbrook Academy of Art, Harel founded his own personal design philosophy by recognizing it more as an attitude rather than merely a practical tool for addressing a challenge. Design, for him, became a continuous dialog, a never-ending path for user experience innovation and improvement.

These principles followed Harel in his myriad roles with Rochester's Eastman Kodak Company, where he led industrial design for commercialization projects as well as design research and development initiatives focused on digital imaging technologies for the company. He is the recipient of numerous US and international patents related to these topics. As an adjunct professor of industrial design at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Harel teaches advanced studio courses with focus on design thinking, user experience, and multidisciplinary collaborations. He is also the codeveloper and content provider for the RIT-Edx Design Thinking Fundamentals Course and leads the IdeaLab and Studio930 design consultancy at RIT's Simone Center for Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship. In 2016, Harel was awarded the Edline M. Chun Award for Outstanding Teaching and Service in the College of Art and Design.

Outside of design, he enjoys drawing, reading science fiction novels and history books, and drinking a nice strong cup of coffee.