Welcome curious reader
Today we are going deep into the realm of purposeful design and exploring the depths of creativity and meaning in the world of design. I’ll share my insights on why purposeful design resonates with me, drawing from personal experiences, reflections on this weeks clay workshop, and discussions with classmates.
–
Listening to my classmates’ share their diverse perspectives on creativity/ design and what it means to them was enlightening. Some resonated with me, while others offered contrasting viewpoints that helped me better understand myself.
–
Reflecting on my own journey, I realize that creativity has always been an integral part of who I am. From a young age, I’ve been fascinated by various creative fields, including art, fashion design, music, architecture, interior design, and of course product design, also photography/media (my dad is a professional in this industry). The intricate details in these areas and in general life have captivated me and I continue to be curious and child like in this world. These interests and passions have helped fuel my creative drive and shaped my approach to design, there is always something new to experience. Here are some things I am currently being curious about: colour theory, sound, our senses, why people buy specific products (psychology of design).
–
One concept that particularly resonates with me is the art of mimicry. I believe that no one is truly original, and inspiration often comes from others. Taking cues from other designers or artists and infusing them with our own unique perspective is where the best ideas and inspirations emerge. Last year, we embarked on an exercise using a ‘curious journal’ to observe and document interesting designs and phenomena in the world around us. This experience was eye-opening, highlighting the importance of exposing ourselves to diverse influences and ideas to fuel our creativity as designers. One amazingly told story and shot YouTube video I saw explaining this is here
–
Moving onto purposeful design, it’s the difference between a Project vs Product. It’s about more than just aesthetics; it’s about solving problems, filling gaps in the market, and creating meaningful solutions. Whats purposeful to me might not be purposeful to other people so one has to find a balance or go one or the other, it depends what the designer wants out of it and what their values are. I never fully appreciated the beauty and intricacy of design until I delved into the world of purposeful design. When given clay what layer of purpose does your creation get to?
–
–
I never thought before that there was such beautiful intricate design in each part of a sword and that the handle part would be something I could make out of clay and have a mould to be able to produce multiple versions. I loved how we were to design a brand for our design also, more on that below. Whether it’s crafting a sword guard or a brand identity or crafting a sword guard brand identity, the process of creating with purpose brings a profound sense of fulfilment and achievement. It’s ironic how purposeful design often goes unnoticed, because it blends into a life where art and other not so purposeful design (ie. not solving a problem etc.) we take notice because it’s different and because it’s meant to invoke emotion, catch attention and be admired.
–
Designing with a purpose isn’t just about the end product; it’s about the journey itself. It’s about embracing challenges, learning from experiences, and evolving as a designer. Purposeful, not the making of just a clay statue. One highlight of the Clay Workshop was talking with the teacher who had dedication and enthusiasm, inspired me to explore new avenues and approaches to design. I now know the whole clay making process and can even make all my own cutlery if I wanted to… do I want to? hmmm, maybe when I am bored in my 60s! I’ll start with a bowl
–
(I sadly didn’t sketch the sketchy sketch, but I found it! could have done a mimicry job on it)
–
I really enjoyed the branding element of the project because that brought a business element into it and more of a product rather than a project. The product I decided to make in clay was a Tsuba, which is a sword guard that goes on the handle which helps with balance and protects you hand in use. So my slogan was “won’t hold your hand in battle, but it will guard it.” It was great fun and I really enjoyed it. It was cool how you can make it all so fast but its probably better to design slowly for the environment, your pockets, the end result and your soul.
–
A product can be what the designer decides to it to be, it could be for you to use or a self expression or for someone else or for both of you or for the whole world, it could be to make someones life better or in some cases, end it 😵. Even a Sword has multiple potential purposes and that is for the consumer or wielder to decide, it could be a decoration or slay a dragon. However if design is for the end purpose of being purposeful for people, your design may need to be more focused in a mindset of who you are designing for, or you will be stuck being your only customer and as Muireann said, you wont even pay yourself!
–
The conclusion I got from this is, purposeful design is not only a reflection of creativity but also a manifestation of meaning and intention. It’s about making a positive impact, solving real-world problems, and creating solutions that resonate with people. As I continue on my design journey, I am committed to embracing purposeful design and contributing to a world where creativity and meaning intersect.
–
Phillip Kenny, who gave us the workshop on clay, has his own design studio, and I was asking loads of questions about it as last week I did the blog on my future studio. It’s very interesting to talk to him about his studio and how he is so fulfilled with a life of creating, he really loves it, especially with clay.
–
Meaningful design brings a feeling of sense of achievement and pride. It makes you happy, positive and excited to progress and do more. Designing with a purpose, with an end goal, whether it’s filling a gap in the market or solving a problem is crucial. I now believe the design I find most purposeful is those designs that are beautiful enough to be in a museum and gazed upon for a questionable duration but also at the same time create businesses. Writing that gives me goosebumps. I want to be a part of that, I want to be a a part of going from a blank page all the way to a business. I truly want that for the rest of my life.
–
Until next time,
ZD