Keynotes
Main Stage K6
Oliver Reichenstein: Maker’s Knowledge and the Present of Time
Giambattista Vico claimed that we only fully understand what we make. This characteristic aspect of his philosophy is sometimes referred to as Maker’s Knowledge or verum factum. Turned around, verum factum becomes factum verum: a truthful product. Creating a truthful product requires that, as makers, we continue to work on our product until we fully understand what we build. As clear as this may seem, thinking takes time, and, as product managers, we tend to prioritize efficiency over deep contemplation. And yet, the more time we spend thoughtfully developing our products, the more efficient, time-saving, and valuable they become for our customers. Applying Maker’s Knowledge to product development comes with an old-fashioned bet: that quality will ultimately pay off for both the customer and the company.