Everyone has heard about President Trump’s proposed WALL –yes, in capital letters—to provide better border protection between the United States and Mexico, and, more importantly, to fulfill one of his presidential campaign’s centerpiece promises.  While I am not here to discuss the merits of that Trump idea, I found it interesting to hear so much in the news the past week about the eight prototypes that have made it to the finals as the US selects the one prototype that will serve to build the wall across a stretch of 3220 kilometers.

I think that when it comes to selecting prototypes, three is a good number.  It allows for a more focused discussion. Or, maybe that is what works best for prototypes for the type of work we as designers do, and may not necessarily apply to a gigantic project such as the building of this wall.

If those who have presented these prototypes are like we are when we pitch our projects, they will be nervous with anticipation and will be preparing themselves both for victory and defeat.

During my four-decade career I have been on both sides of the “pitch wall”.  When you win, you always take a good look at those competitors you  have won over, to learn from the experience. Often, you feel honored when the competition is phenomenal. When you lose, that is when you try to get hold of what the competition presented, to learn from that experience too.

And, sometimes, after you win the project, you continue to do prototypes.  My most difficult project, the German newspaper, Die Zeit, required 11 prototypes before one hit the spot.

So, I can only imagine—and sympathize—with those eight vendors who now have presented their best work for a proposed wall and will wait patiently to get the results.

What we know about the 8 prototypes:

 Four of the prototypes are made from concrete and are competing for the chance to be used for the concrete portions of the wall. 

The other four  prototypes are made from non-concrete materials that are competing to be used for the stretches of barrier that can be seen through.

All are between 18 and 30 feet high.

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/see-all-8-prototypes-for-trump’s-‘big-beautiful’-border-wall/ar-AAtXt1X?li=BBnbcA1

The Guardian: reader support

https://www.theguardian.com/membership/2017/oct/26/together-we-are-safeguarding-the-guardians-independent-journalism?utm_source=eml&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&CMP_TU=&CMP_BUNIT=&att

Highlight:

The Guardian is now funded by more than 800,000 supporters from more than 140 countries. Half a million readers are subscribers or members, or give to us on a monthly basis, while over the past 12 months we’ve received another 300,000 individual contributions from readers all over the world. We are also seeing strong sales of our print Guardian and Observer newspapers.

 

April 18-19, 2018-–Newscamp ,Augsburg,  Germany.