Questioning the race for innovation: Why always want better and more ?

Elon Musk, a renowned engineer and entrepreneur in the field of New Technologies, has been elected Person of the Year 2021 by Time Magazine. A year ago Facebook transformed itself into “Meta” in order to pioneer the next big evolution of the Internet: the Metaverse (It refers to online spaces where people can meet, work or play via personalized avatars). Apple and other big companies have been denounced for applying programmed obsolescence on their products for commercial purposes. In short, today the place of innovation and New Technologies are predominant. But in a context where the climate emergency and the concern about the digitalization of relationships are becoming major issues, what place should be given to technical progress and innovation?

The threat of innovation

The French philosopher Xavier Pavie said “Why do we innovate? For one reason : survival.” The evolution of societal needs makes the inventions of the past inoperative and irrelevant. In the collective imagination, innovation is synonymous of progress and growth. However, if we focus on its societal impacts, it deserves to be treated with more care.

Let’s think about social networks. In the first decade of the 21st century, the arrival of the Internet allowed the arrival of platforms such as Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, etc. Quickly, the concept of putting oneself forward has seduced, especially the younger generations. However, several scientific studies have noted the harmful impacts of social networks on mental health. According to the Mental Health Foundation, the rate of anxiety among young people has increased by 70% in the last 25 years. Social networks are said to cause problems of addiction, anxiety, depression, cyber-harassment, dysmorphia and feelings of loneliness. Yet Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, is one of the most active and respected men in the field of “New Technologies”.

When a new product or service comes on the market, it intrigues and arouses curiosity. Discovery is a sensation associated with human well-being. This is why some creations can seduce without necessarily asking the question of their utility. Selfie drone, voice assistant, space travel, etc. here are some “innovative” examples that do not provide a significant added value for our society but that satisfy a hedonistic need.
What if we were to consider what already exists rather than pursue the innovation race that can be synonymous with danger?

Questioning innovation

Writer Jill Lepore said, “The world may not be getting better, but our devices are getting newer.” She questions the speed of technology compared to the current pace. As a form of incompatibility, of short-circuit.

Innovation is a credo, a need, in a world where consumption is king. The “old” and “the existing” become fatally outdated and boring. Thus, ruined buildings are becoming more and more imposing, oceans of waste are forming and killing our marine space. The building and public works sector accounts for nearly 40% of CO2 emissions. A French study* (from the ENSA Normandie school) revealed that 75% of French architecture students graduated without having received any training in “reconstruction”. 

Reconstruction is used to repair what already exists in order to give a second function to an asset and thus limit waste. But it is a practice that has been neglected because it does not correspond to the logic of the sector. Architects have a constructive and creative reflex that leads them to imagine new forms, new materials, that’s where their freedom lies. But some of them realize the damage that can be caused by this permanent tendency to the “new”. For example, the French studio “Aïno” has committed itself to working only on rehabilitation in order to limit the carbon footprint and the artificialization of the soil.
The analysis and diagnosis of the existing before any innovations could be a way to give meaning to New Technologies.
In fashion, this reflex is put into practice. In France, buying second-hand has never been so predominant. In 2021, the second-hand market has grown by 140% compared to 2019. The “Vinted” platform (online space where second-hand products are exchanged) is the second favorite e-commerce site of the French. This new practice of reusing and giving a second life to a product can be a form of resistance to innovation.

The need for innovation

But are we dedicated to living in an aging world? In its proper sense, innovation means “the constant search for improvements to the existing”. Indeed, many innovations have contributed to societal progress. The scientific field, for example, is constantly looking for new treatments to cure a maximum of pathologies. They are anticipating the next problems that societies will experience. In addition to the medical field, many entrepreneurs are working on projects to understand human behavior. In fashion, this reflex is put into practice.
In business, innovation is a key factor to survive in the market. It is a way to differentiate oneself from one’s competitors, to gain credibility and notoriety but also to retain and attract talent. The creative need is born from the need to innovate, to create something new, original. It even becomes instinctive, especially for those working in the art, communication, engineering or fashion sectors, etc. Reinvention is necessary to keep these sectors alive, which contribute to the intellectual development of the population. 

Interview Lea Posado Bañuls

Lea Posado Bañuls is an architecture student at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture Paris-Belleville.
Innovation is the essence of architecture. What vision do students have of their future profession? Can we innovate with responsibility and in accordance with today’s needs?

What is your definition of architecture?

In my opinion, architecture is like looking at a painting in a museum, the only difference is that with architecture we live a completely immersive experience in which we can observe, discover and contemplate every corner.

According to you, what is its use?

Whether it’s urban planning, decoration, renovation… architecture gives life to spaces and that’s what I like about this job. It allows people to live moments of life in a home, to create a culture that is specific and differentiating to each continent, each country, each city.
I think this is a very important point, because architecture is a central element in the enrichment of nations.
Each architectural style is not always conceived for the sake of “beauty”, “trend”…but to meet specific needs at a given time. For example, the Haussmannian style that decorates the city of Paris was invented because the capital needed a complete transformation. The streets were narrow, unhealthy and left little room for light. Napoleon III therefore decided to launch an urban plan so that Paris would once again become a reference, an undeniable power. Architecture was therefore at the time (and still is today) a way to give an image of France.

Do you associate architecture with innovation?

Architecture is obviously innovation, and we can see that through the decades, today it is possible to build buildings that are much more respectful of the environment, with materials that are less harmful to our planet and that meet our expectations perfectly. This is only the beginning. And yes, it has a role to play in preserving the environment. We all have a role to play in fact. It is important that through our work we allow users to consume better and this can be possible through the innovations that we bring to our creations. For example, to put in place within the housing a whole structure allowing to recover the used water, to clean it and to reuse it for various occasions.

Is it more relevant to build or to “rebuild”?

I think that depending on the project it can be interesting to build/reconstruct. On the one hand we create a story, a space starting from 0 and on the other hand we are inspired by a story, an experience to give life to something else. So they are not the same constraints. If we see it from an environmental point of view, some renovation projects can be more expensive than if we start from scratch. So these are things that need to be planned for beforehand.

Do you think that creativity is necessarily associated with innovation?

I don’t think creativity and innovation are necessarily inseparable because you can be creative without being innovative and innovative without being creative. Creativity is subjective and specific to each person.

Do you think there are limits to innovation

I think that one day we may reach a limit to our ability to innovate. However, I have confidence in human intelligence and our ability to be creative in order to find a new angle of exploitation and thus launch a new form of innovation.