Whilst studying Ecological Design Thinking at Schumacher College I undertook a research project titled, ‘Thinking with my Hands, Feeling with my Heart’. I explored how craft can be a catalyst for healing the separation within individuals between the human and natural world. I make the argument that the designer should seek, as a practice, to bring unity to the conditioned lens of separated perception through connecting with the natural world whilst making. I highlight the importance of the designer becoming aware and refining his/her perception of connection with nature as a means of proper meta-design. So many design solutions to social, cultural and ecological challenges at first seemingly solve the problem, though go onto creating second, third, fourth-order problems. This is due to the deep interconnectedness and complexity of our human systems with each other and the natural world. Through the same separated lens of perception or level of thinking, we will continue to make solutions and further problems based on that degree of thinking. The challenges we face require a radically different way of thinking to create well-refined solutions with their essence being connected to the whole.
I outline a process of getting out of our heads and connecting inward to our hearts through the sensorial realm of making, inspired by the work of psychologist Carl Jung. This work is by no means complete or polished and outlines my journey, and process of practices that I followed. It is not to say that I too have healed the separation myself, but having had glimmers into perceiving differently, I recognise the importance of it and understand the work that is required to shift my perceptions. This journey will be for the rest of my life.
This work developed my understanding of the importance of working to better understand the inner dimensions of my life so that the work that emerges is from a place of clearer clarity. I see the potential that conscious making has as a catalyst that aids the work of the designer/maker to create a more beautiful and harmonious world and to design solutions with the whole in mind.
To read the full paper click here. I’d appreciate any constructive feedback, comments and suggestion 🙂
