Abstract
The concept of design involves transformation, which is a continuous process of renewal. It is important to start a fire in design, as we believe this is the only way to for a fresh start. The underlying idea is to embrace change and have the courage to stand by it. We must ignite this fire in our processes and reevaluate if there are more effective methods. With the emergence of new technologies, traditional approaches may not always be the most effective. A radical mindset can introduce fresh perspectives and applications.
This article serves as a reminder that we all need to renew our approach. It is a sincere call to awaken the creative designer within us and inspire them to think beyond the conventional methods.
A necessary fire in the field of design, but there is still hope
The concept of ekstasis and catharsis holds significant weight and when combined, they create a powerful synergy. This intriguing notion suggests that despite our individual paths, we all ultimately strive for the same thing. Ekstasis, also known as the flow state by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, offers a higher vantage point, providing a larger view of the world from above. On the other hand, Catharsis is born from perseverance and struggle, giving a perspective from the ground level. As Viktor Frankl, a survivor of concentration camps, stated that “no life is complete without suffering”. Being cathartic as a human is very natural, human nature is in the shades of gray which means it is a spectrum rather than two sides of the coin. So we might have more control over it, than we think.
Let’s look at design frameworks, they are brilliant. They offer a lot of flexibility and choice. Just like scientific ideas, which are constantly challenged, disproved or improved, design frameworks also need to have a constant influx of new ideas, antithesis, and evolution. So, we might as well ignite a flame in the current approach to design in order to uncover potential improvements. This does not indicate that the current systems of design is flawed, but rather that it is not as effective as it could be. Design should not be dogmatic. It should constantly make headway, and we must be willing to pave the path and quickly adapt. Refusing to challenge the established way of thinking may ultimately have negative consequences in the future. But there is still hope!
Design pundits carry optimism as they develop new frameworks, concepts, and persuasive arguments to improve current ones. The expertise comes for years of invested time and wealth of knowledge to think of new perspectives. Let’s look at the example of Critical Design by Dunne & Raby. One of the main obstacles they encountered involved changing people's view of design from a task centered on solving problems and achieving business goals to one that promotes critical thinking and discussion. This required convincing both the design industry and society to embrace design as a means of challenging established beliefs and considering alternative possibilities.
Path to recovery always starts with pain, if we look back in the past into various market crashes, famine or pandemics are all cathartic moments in human history that shaped the future and made us more resilient. The hope that we carry to find a way to overcome drastic situations clears a path for our future, as we continue shaping it in the present based on past reflections. A cathartic moment can only happen if the perseverance is based on known facts and data to attempt to find a new way to solve problems that are unforeseen.
Detach from attachments
According to Bhagvad Gita, a Hindu Scripture mentions that attachment is an illusion. We naturally connect with things, objects, and people. This makes us feel so attached to them that we can't see the truth beyond them. We become dependent on them, which naturally also leads us to suffering, anger, and frustration. Bhagvad Gita does not talk about detachment in the sense of no emotional involvement, but rather a balance and recognition of what true fulfillment is for everyone. Which would eventually lead to recognition.
A classic example would be of Blackberry, they were so attached to their ideas of what an ideal world should be that which favors them. The world did not hesitate a bit to discard their expectations and move on to the next shiny thing. Their attachment and ignorance to see clear signs signaling otherwise was the reason for their downfall. If true detachment would exist, it would make us less human and more robots. However, being careless to not adapt is a flaw that has destroyed empires overnight.
As we design experiences, we need to watch what people expect and understand what they need. We need to learn the perspective of users and their perception of the product. The combination would help us build great products and adapt to the ever changing needs. Customer’s needs change, and as a designer the separation from the product with a constant change in acceptance behavior, will help to make the products more enjoyable. Purge the old, embrace the change.
Fear of ambiguity
Navigating through ambiguous situations can be challenging and require careful consideration. One way to approach this is by exploring new possibilities and gaining a fresh perspective on how to overcome it. However, ambiguity can also bring about anxiety and lead to poor decision-making. To effectively address it, it is important to assess existing data and experiences. A shift in mindset is necessary to understand the nature of the challenge at hand. Instead of being consumed by fear, it is more beneficial to directly confront the situation. Designers can improve their decision-making by focusing on reducing ambiguity rather than simply handling it. It can be simply trying to address the situation with known facts, carrying out small experiments and having diverse eyes on it, and documenting the process to not be in the same situation again are just a few things that can be done. Uncertainty is inevitable, and adapting this mentality can aid in better problem-solving.
One of the best examples of tackling ambiguity is AirBnB. In its early days, the founders had a lot of concerns around the success of the product. Would people like to rent their homes to a stranger. Instead, they acted on it and tested the environment before making it a global sensation. They had to visit homes, ask them about the idea, test it out with user reviews, and give the abode owners a guarantee of an incentive of any damages. Trust was the answer to their ambiguous situation, and as it was built, the company grew.
If we look closely, hope was the main driving force for them to dig for the answer. The decision was difficult to pursue, but they believed it could be achieved. The catharsis of believing in their truth of success gave them the moral boost to keep at it. Similarly, design should trust in a process that best fits the situation. Design is at the intersection of art and science. One may think ambiguity makes it difficult, but rather it is a clear choice of artful solution to a scientific problem. Creative thinking is needed in such circumstances.
The process of catharsis and hope leads to a continuous cycle of rejuvenation, in which designers let go of outdated ideas and strive towards creating something purposeful, strong, and innovative. The two are inseparable and depend on each other indefinitely. When we have faith, determination will bring about success. It is crucial to focus on "what needs to be done" rather than "how it needs to be done." We often become caught up in the latter, causing hesitation in reaching the necessary breakthrough. A radical approach with speculative thinking is needed to break free of the mundane loop of design approach. A liberal design approach is needed.
Is it really absurd?
We can become so focused on outcomes that we forget to focus on the process and approach of thinking outside of the box. This can lead to a biased approach where we limit ourselves and our solutions. However, accepting absurdity, or new ideas, can often lead to successful plans and new solutions. This requires breaking away from traditional thinking and supporting our actions with creative endeavors. Embracing absurdity may be challenging in discussions, but it can be effective if we back it up with relevant and connected research. Reframing it as an untapped opportunity or a low-risk investment that addresses a specific and unique need can also help in these conversations. In order to successfully market a seemingly ridiculous concept, it is important to thoroughly plan and ensure that it caters to the needs of the audience. Additionally, it must be backed up by relevant research to demonstrate its potential. Predicting the timeline and level of acceptance can aid in identifying initial supporters and those who may be more hesitant, allowing for a better understanding of the target audience. Ultimately, perseverance is key.
Amazon was introduced to sell books online; at the time it was an absurd idea. No one in their right mind would buy books online when they have to share their credit card details and wait until they receive the book. Nonetheless, the absurd idea that Bezos started with now is a successful business that has expanded into various other products.
Absurdity is not synonymous with stupidity; it is a perspective that surpasses conventional norms, making it hard to accept. Occasionally, plans may fail and require a fresh approach or alternative directive in order to objectively discover a solution. It relied on catharsis to achieve something that was believed to be unachievable. To start with hope and trust your own judgment even when the world laughs, you need courage. Courage makes you brave and believes in what you believe. Not all silly ideas should be considered, but evaluating them based on chance and basic human nature is important to success.
Speculative thinking
Have you ever played games? They require you to take on a role and complete specific objectives. In the past, these objectives were set and rigid, but now games offer more flexibility, allowing for multiple paths to success. Roleplaying enables players to explore different approaches to achieving success. Similarly, a successful product should also have multiple facets built into it. There is no one right way of using a product. Personas are helpful for finding the right people to target at first. But as new ways to invest and compete come along, they may need to be changed. A forward-thinking mindset is necessary to anticipate future changes and make informed decisions. Knowledge and staying current with the market, competition, and evolving customer needs is crucial in making calculated judgements about the future. This is not merely guesswork, but a creative use of real-time data to anticipate outcomes beyond expectations.
An excellent example is Slack, which originated as a chat room for players of Tiny Speck's game. Although the game was eventually discontinued, the popular interactive chat feature evolved into the modern-day Slack. This pivot, which involved recognizing the shortcomings and acknowledging the strengths within those shortcomings, exemplifies the speculative mindset at work. It enabled Tiny Speck to swiftly recognize that they had unintentionally developed a remarkable communication tool.
Although it shares similarities with absurdity, the goal is to be mostly accurate. Speculative thinking is a collaborative effort and must undergo thorough scrutiny to be deemed significant. These ideas may seem far-fetched now, but they have the potential to thrive in the future. It typically begins by considering various viewpoints. Pretotyping concepts that may seem impractical now could lead to success in the future. The key is to stay ahead of the game, as that is where innovation occurs. Innovation is not always intentional, it can also happen by chance. Speculative thinking plays a significant role in this process.
It is born from the question “what if”. What if the chat feature is used for file sharing? What if glasses are used for augmented reality? These what if questions are based on assumptions and backward-looking data or historical data. Another interesting approach is working backwards from the absurd idea. Think about what the future could be, create a backlog but build for the present and have a future vision. The vision might change, so adapting to the changing needs and maneuvering to the goal becomes critical.
To sum it up
If you think about it, having hope for something is crucial in order to tackle difficult obstacles and achieve a goal. Hope serves as a motivation for us to pursue our goals, even when the desired outcome may not be immediate. It is a belief in the potential for positive change that can only be realized through dedicated effort. While it takes courage to step out of our comfort zone and try something new, knowing that failure is a possibility, hope is what allows us to push through and remain committed to our goals. This unrelenting hope is what drives individuals to take action and achieve results, even in the face of potential failure. It is this persistent hope that leads to transformation and empowers individuals to push beyond their limits and achieve success.
The idea that one-size fits all is no longer effective must be considered. Personalization is crucial for all products, and with the use of AI, it can be easily achieved. The focus should now be on inclusivity, ethics, adaptability, and being human-centered. AI agents have been developed specifically for this purpose, requiring minimal human assistance. By analyzing structured and unstructured data, these agents can make predictions about the user and adjust to meet their individual needs. These agents can also be incorporated into the system, gradually creating a unique experience for the user. It is through such determination that a radical re-imagining or breakthroughs are possible. AI is just an example to illustrate the synergy of catharsis and hope. It alleviates emotional weight through automated mundane duties, enhances understanding with user-friendly products, ultimately empowering human connection and adjusting to their preferences - it's everything one could ask for.
We have limitless hopes and desires in terms of expectations. Simply discarding old ways of thinking, working, and achieving is not sufficient to attain success. We must completely overhaul and start afresh in order to discover new aspects of design that would remain undiscovered otherwise. It is crucial to swiftly acknowledge and make room for the new by letting go of the old. While nostalgia may be pleasant, its impact is minimal and temporary. True maturity comes from undergoing a transformation. Let’s strive for it.
Written by Pratik Joglekar.
Pratik Joglekar is a design strategist dedicated to shaping the future of product experiences through a neurodiversity-focused approach. With a deep passion for aligning strategy and design, he ensures that products are not only innovative but also inclusive and thoughtfully crafted for diverse ways of thinking. His work bridges the gap between vision and execution, creating seamless and forward-thinking experiences that empower all users. He enjoys offering a unique perspective that inspires unconventional ideas and designs.
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