Defaults are pervasive. They are not only inherently tied to existing systems of power, they actively perpetuate them. Defaults are easy. They provide efficiency, security and freedom from risk. Defaults are subtle. They disguise themselves in what is commonly accepted and what isn’t easily known.

But default conditions are ultimately constructed by us. We can self-flagellate or retreat, blaming our powerlessness within this totalizing framework, choosing the safe path. Or we can challenge the default by diving into the history of things. We can constantly question what we want the default to be. We can imagine something different as designers, as architects, and as citizens. We must not be afraid to fail and if there is no other recourse, we have to gather the courage to exit.

Regardless of difficulty and circumstance, it is our responsibility to be critical of the Default.