Driven

Formula 1 is an amazing industry. Our immediate image of it might be of some ultimate platform of racing and excitement. However, what inspires me most in Grand Prix racing, is the industry. This is where creativity is pushing boundaries of engineering and technology. In light of this, a significant thread driving my thoughts recently is how conflict keeps us growing. Conflict, being what we understand it to be, is also the most imminent threat to that growth.

I am a car enthusiast. I’ve been one ever since I know myself. A fond childhood memory of mine involves the walk to and from school. On my way, I used to observe the differences between parked cars. I was passing them on the sidewalk, one after the other. One day I would focus on the door handles and side mirrors. Each day was dedicated to a few details. When I was in high school, I wanted to become an automotive designer. I did become an industrial designer. I am still a car enthusiast. But the conflict kept building in me as I continued to follow the industries related to the automotive world.

In my third year of design school, I took a workshop presented by a designer who had worked in Citroen. He probably wasn’t the main influence on my decision to avoid pushing for a career as a car designer. However, his experience raised a useful insight: my goal should be to strive for excellence before any role in any industry. Among the interesting professional details that he shared, were indicators for concern. At the time, I envisioned myself engaged in the excitement of design and innovation. The money invested in the automotive industry might sound like an exciting field of engagement. But that same money makes the car industry prone to being extremely conservative. Then, If I ever started working in that industry, I might have been assigned to reducing the cost-effectiveness of decorative linings of windshields. That didn’t sound exciting. Striving for excellence in any established industry involves years of humbling and possibly humiliating experiences. I guess I was too spoiled to consider that as a valuable proposition. I was not humble.

Like millions of car enthusiasts, I’ve been following Formula 1 races. When I was a teenager, I had a subscription to Autocar, a British weekly. I used to read it from cover to cover. In my twenties, I switched to the aptly named CAR Magazine, a monthly this time. I appreciated the writing of reporters covering topics from industry secrets to new vehicle comparisons. They also had a fascinating section covering Formula 1. I was mostly attracted to the descriptions of the technology involved. The development of machines that need to reach extreme conditions is fascinating. The teamwork involved goes hand in hand with the talent required to push boundaries of human achievement.

So, the conflict continued to creep in when I considered the question ‘what for?’ In every process, there is an end result. We all strive for a certain degree of excellence. Some of us are more extreme than others. Some reach higher degrees of success and some even fail. But we all employ various drives, even for the simplest acts in life. When I watch the broadcasts of races as I’ve done this year, my own conflict lies in the tension between excitement and boredom. I am excited about the race and the strategies involved in winning. I am bored with sitting still, watching a static screen. I might have been better off doing something else. I sometimes even stretch or exercise while watching races. But the conflict builds up further.

As a designer, I am used to coming up with creative ideas. I thrive on turning them into beautiful processes. My aim is to serve a human purpose. Comparing car details in my childhood was driven by a set of traits that in turn, prepared me to address complex issues. To communicate these issues, I make an effort to simplify my messages. Simplifying my messages helps me engage with other people. Even then, communication is a daily challenge. I am fascinated with this challenge. It is both straightforward and mysterious. Talking is the straightforward part. You move your jaw and emit sounds. Communication is the mysterious part.

The time from the buzz in my brain to me saying something can be measured in milliseconds. If my practice is any good, the person I am talking to gets what I’m saying and we can have a useful conversation.

How many times in life do we experience roadblocks in communication? Sometimes I invest time in considering my thoughts before sharing them, in private or in public. That too, at times works well and occasionally fails.

It does take years of practice to reach a level of skill in communicating effectively. Did I make a mistake in not pushing for a career in the automotive industry? Now here is a can of worms many people I know might like to open. This could be a discussion for another time.

In formula 1, massive amounts of money and energy are employed in the pursuit of winning races. The line between success and failure is typically razor blade sharp. Large teams are involved in making this journey. Communication in this context is crucial. To make the whole team work successfully, communication’s importance cannot be overstated. It is the single most important component of engagement in running the show. And this is where I fail to engage fully: it is a show. I wish it were a straightforward process of creation for the benefit of humanity. But at the end of the day, it’s a show.

Since it is a show, I am looking forward to the 2022 season. For the fun of it, I looked into the 23 layouts of racing venues. Then I traced them and created a variety of setups that show the race tracks to scale with each other. Their prints can be found on Threadless and Zazzle.

May the best team win.