WOII | Week 1- Phenomenology
Before encountering phenomenology, I approached design as a structured discipline governed by logic and problem-solving. I believed there was a correct way for users to interact with a product, and my role was to guide them toward that ideal path. Design, to me, was about clarity, efficiency, and control.
My favorite phrase, “We look up at the same stars and see such different things” by George R.R. Martin's A Storm of Swords has become the heartbeat of my design philosophy. In the past, I might have designed for a certain way and wanted people to view it the way I wanted it to be.
Phenomenology reshaped this perspective entirely. It revealed that reality is not fixed or objective but constructed through individual perception, emotion, and context. Two people can engage with the same design and experience it in profoundly different ways. What feels intuitive and calming to one may feel distant or confusing to another. These differences are not flaws in the design, they are the essence of human experience.
This shift has led me to value the experience of use over mere task completion. Instead of asking only whether something works, I now ask how it feels. Bracketing allows me to set aside assumptions and approach a design with fresh awareness: How might this feel to someone tired, curious, or overwhelmed? What meanings might emerge beyond my intention?
Reflecting on my younger self, I see a tendency to rush toward outcomes, both in life and in design. Now, I recognize the importance of “being” of engaging with the present moment and the richness it holds. People are not static, and neither are their experiences. A product or space evolves with the user’s changing state of mind and stage in life.
Phenomenology has taught me that design is not about control, but about empathy, an ongoing effort to understand how others experience their world. Word count: 268
All Stars Are Different, but When We Look up, We See Them Just the Same. | by Khayl | Dec, 2025 | Medium, medium.com/@khayl/all-stars-are-different-but-when-we-look-up-we-see-them-just-the-same-a69948612402.