At the end of the day, it’s all about design
What do the terms “design” and “artifice” mean to a person? When I think of “design” the first words that I usually think of are “arrangement” or “innovation” or even “creativity.” However, it was interesting to know how designing is actually conceiving an idea, and developing it into a product that provides a sense of purpose. It aims to enhance the overall interactive experience with a product or system. I always perceived design as a singular term. Little was I aware that an entire spectrum was present within it. The concept of the four orders of design was fascinating in itself. Being introduced to each individual category was another eye-opening moment for me as I learned about how each design form enhanced our interaction and communication in its own way. From something as simple as food to something as vast as an entire country, everything thrives on design. Now that I recognize this, it is evident that all this design was always present around me, yet I could not analyze and appreciate its intricacies in the way I can now. It really goes unnoticed because we don’t realize how design is embedded in the human mind by default. In fact, we have customized our routines and surroundings only because we have been programmed to function with design. Since everyone’s perception of design varies, it makes each of our environs unique.
However, after further contemplation, one can find even more categories to compartmentalize our environments in. Through a simple exercise of simply listing down what I own, the number of newer divisions that I could later categorize those objects in was also astounding. From various affinity diagrams to mind maps, it was up to us how we perceived our world and further categorized it. This only made it easier for me as a person, as I could break down my world into smaller blocks and appreciate the details within it. But this struck me with yet another question: what does “my world” exactly comprise? Does it only contain tangible items that I own or does it go beyond to the more abstract feelings I associate with certain experiences? At the surface, the world “belonging” instantly brings up physical possessions in mind. However, after various insightful discussions, I realized that what we own can also be intangible. In fact, the concept of “ownership” itself is very relative. What one person may consider as a “belonging” may not be theirs in reality. But the fact that they associate a sense of value with it makes it feel like they possess it. Time, for example, is not in our control. Yet, we allocate a part of our day as the “me time”: a part of the day when we consider the time to be ours only.
This eventually brings up the concept of value. What is value and what are those “objects” that are valuable to a person? For me, a bracelet can be valuable because I feel beautiful with it, whereas another person can value the same bracelet because it reminds them of a friend. Thus, like the perception of design and beauty, the concepts of ownership and value are also variable from person to person. We all have certain experiences, certain memories or emotions attached with tangible or intangible objects, which can make them “valuable” for us.
In conclusion, these realizations truly moved me. I could feel that the way I observed my surroundings was evolving. I could now see beyond a simple object or building. I could see designs. A multitude of designs all integrated within our systems, establishing it into an experience. Despite being integrated, I could still admire the designs within their individual groups and assign them the sense of value that I associated with them.
It’s time for you to now look at this picture or even around you and search for the designs that surround you everyday.