My congratulations to Design on its official engagement to Business. Looks to be a lovely wedding and splendid marriage. Everyone’s invited. If you didn’t get the invitation, you can pick it up at the news stand. Just look for this month’s special invitation in the Fast Company magazine devoted to the relationship of Design and Business. “We do something that no other business magazine has ever done: We devote virtually an entire issue to the subject of design.” I feel so honored to be a part.

And why are these two upstanding people tying the knot? I think Business says it best: “Because we believe that great design has become as important to competitive advantage as smart technology. It’s why Procter & Gamble chief A.G. Lafley is making design a core part of his company’s new culture. It’s why the iPod is the hottest consumer product today. It’s why BMW’s Mini Cooper has been a terrific success. And it’s why Target has succeeded against the Wal-Mart juggernaut.” I’m really looking forward to meeting all their friends at the reception.

Yes, Design and Business will live a happy life together. “In the years ahead, design will become a basic necessity, a ticket to competing in the game of business. It is a discipline that needs to become ingrained in business thinking, just as quality was in the 1980s.” I feel loved like a ticket. I want to be ingrained into business. My heart melts with the purity of devotion.

Wait a minute. Smart Technology? I hope Design can live up to that lofty relationship Business and Smart Technology enjoyed. And Quality? Quality! Why did you have to mention Quality? We all know what happened to Quality after it got dumped by business. Quality became a four letter word and the brunt of office jokes. I hope this doesn’t happen to Design. It couldn’t. Could it? Business has been so nice in its past relationships. Big cars, nice houses, fancy chairs, the finest clothes. What more could Design want? Oh dear me. What should I do? Should I go to the wedding? Do I have a choice? Help.