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<\/p>\n\n\n\nMarshall McLuhan was a media theorist who understood the power of words and the strength of electronic mediums and how they change the way we see each other. He discovered many ideas that relate to the network strategy as an environment: the medium is the message, the hot and cold media strategy, acoustical space, and the meaning of the global village. We may not have enough time to go through every aspect that he came up with, but there are a few that we\u2019re gonna discuss here today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One is the importance of McLuhan\u2019s well-known phrase, \u201cThe Medium is the Message.\u201d When I first heard this phrase I was a bit confused because I had to turn my attention to what a \u201cmedium\u201d truly is; it\u2019s what the content is being displayed upon, like computers, phones, radios, televisions, etc. The collective viewings, feelings, and forming of our own impressions and immediate interpretations of something that is right before our eyes. McLuhan said, \u201cWe shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us.\u201d Re-reading this quote, again and again, may make you wonder how we relate to each other through the tools we decide to use. What kind of tools are you mending? How do they impact society? Well, McLuhan\u2019s theory helps designers dive deeper into media and understand that the way we receive messages changes our interpretation. It makes us question our values and how we trust certain platforms. No matter what kind of tool a designer chooses to make, we must all realize how important and meaningful it can be for someone. The real question is what kind of tool are you willing to make to connect with your audience?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another principal McLuhan has so gladly left us with is the idea of the \u201cglobal village\u201d and how in today\u2019s society, we are consumed by electronic media. Although keeping up with certain aspects of society and the media can be difficult, McLuhan has given us hope in moving towards personal interactions worldwide through electronic media. What this means is that all people have access to the same information, simultaneously, which further links people together. This past year and moving forward, there is no doubt that new technologies will come about and advance, and because of this, we are able to connect throughout the entire world. It\u2019s as simple as logging onto your computer and reading comments on your friend\u2019s Instagram post. Or maybe you\u2019re scrolling through your social media accounts and learn about an incredible design opportunity that is hiring new designers and you want to sign up. As time provides more opportunities and technological advancements, the intention of the media itself is what builds the message. Because of Marshall McLuhan, we too have the ability to advance technology in a way that reconnects people to who they really are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Photographer: Yousuf Karsh, 1967.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Marshall McLuhan was a media theorist who understood the power of words and the strength of electronic mediums and how they change the way we see each other. He discovered many ideas that relate to the network strategy as an environment: the medium is the message, the hot and cold media strategy, acoustical space, and … <\/p>\n