I created this space to remember, reflect on, and to celebrate the works of my journey as a designer.
© 2022 Glenda Yeo
© 2022 Glenda Yeo
The affordance of an object does not just invite a user to pick it up and use it, but it guides the user along in using the object like an instruction manual would. It is definitely more than just an invitation; it is like an usher.
One phrase that summed up 'confluence' for me was ‘coordinated coincidences’. Confluence seems to be about finding THE essence between objects (Eg: A stool, a carrier and a coffee table) and tastefully putting them together to bring out that value.
I realised how a designer is not just a good craftsman but, more importantly, a good ‘noticer’ and I strive to be as such!
I love how the word ‘unfolding’ was used to describe the process of discovering design narratives. It feels almost like an old man unfolding a large newspaper patiently, with gentle hands but a determined heart, to glean from the articles. This, to me, conveyed the idea of ‘natural narratives’ rather felicitously. As a user approaches an object, the affordances of the object should gently and subtly guide the user to use it, yet at the same time, affirm the user that he is doing it ‘right’. As the user uses the object, he is experiencing a story that is being told through the object.
It was interesting to me how ‘natural narratives’ was contrasted to ‘artificial fiction’. It almost feels like natural narratives flows with the user, but artificial fiction demands the user to flow with it. The examples of ‘Artificial Intelligence’ versus ‘Augmented Intelligence’ further piqued my curiosity in the disparity because the former serves as a substitute to human intelligence while the latter supplements and supports human thinking, analysis and planning.
Understanding that design is a storytelling process, and taking into consideration object, situation, user, event and phenomena, inspired me to look for stories in the objects around me. The thought of how the narratives behind objects are shaped to the natural memory of people was eye-opening for me because I’ve always understood that when we design, we should design with a persona in mind however, having it put into words like that inspired me to look at ‘contexts’ in a whole new light. It’s not just about the persona’s day to day behavior, words and actions, but it’s about how the persona has been shaped and is getting shaped (and fostered) by surrounding stimuli too.
Adaequatio.
I’ve had many moments where I wondered to myself, ‘This design solution seems so logical and obvious, I’m sure many others will think of it too’ but to my surprise, it usually never happens. I knew it had something to do with who we are as individuals (how we were created to be stitched together with a lifetime of experiences) but I never really got down to thinking about it.
It was particularly enlightening that adaequatio was described as the ‘readiness to listen and hear, then comprehend’. It reminded me, that as a designer, I need to constantly be ready to listen and hear, and overtime, as I comprehend and process my thoughts, I’ll be building up my inner phenomena. This seems to also be what Newton described as ‘acute sensibilities’ where the drawing of connections between the ‘useless knowledge’ and ‘creativity’ would spark combinatory play.
“Don’t be too precious with your ideas”
I think this is something difficult but it is an important value to foster. When we let go, there’s always the fear of the unknown but as Chögyam Trungpa put it, “Letting go opens the portal to the power of presence”. When we choose to let go, we open the portal to the power of presence as we empty ourselves and are fully receptive. This is something I’m still learning, and will have to continue to learn. I believe that the moment we are willing to let go is the beginning of the design process.
To design, is to allow yourself to get lost (divergence) till you find the light at the end of the tunnel (convergence).
If I had to put a word to it, I’d say that this project is the most ‘natural’ I’ve experienced. Instead of investigating and plugging the gaps, we look at the gifts of the objects and allow it to tell its own story. It’s so tempting to dive into a ‘clever idea’ and it’s painful to let go of a ‘clever idea’, but the richness and timelessness of an insightful idea is ineffable. From exploring affordance and confluence, to unfolding values and narratives, to bringing an audience through a discovery of insights, everything falls back on being natural – Honesty and authenticity.