Scott Burnham

Design Hacking Scott Burnham

"Exceedingly well written and comprehensive." - Core77

"Hacking is really just today's name for the personal creative spirit that has always underpinned human ingenuity," writes Scott Burnham. Throughout this essay he traces hacking's evolution from the digital to the analogue world and shows how the resourceful spirit behind hacking is improving everything from design products to cities and public space.

The essay features insight Burnham gained from years spent researching and working with design and urban hacking projects around the world. From this observation he details the benefits a hacking ethos can bring to products, services and cities:

Hacking creates new engagements between the product and the consumer. Hacking mandates relevance and necessity in design. Hacking is resourceful. Hacking creates abundance from limited resources. Hacking finds the truth in systems.

The text closes with "14 Ways to Get Hacked", showing how product makers or service providers can build in ways to encourage a more playful and resourceful relationship with your offering.