Socio-economical inequality, depletion of natural resources, and growing figures of burnout and depression are only some of our current complex problems. Designers have been occupying a critical role in providing methodologies, tools, and mindsets to address these issues. Yet, design thinking and strategic design have been widely criticized for their lack of ability to move from concept to action. I have found that this gap is in part, a result of our lack of focus on the inner state of the designer.
My intention with this project is to evolve the discipline of design, and design education to support a world in transition into more desired futures. For this challenge, I explored what said futures might look like and sought root causes for the undesired symptoms of our present ways of being. Through multiple forms of conversation and an auto-ethnographic process, I attempted to identify and develop my own lens as a designer who wishes to create meaningful change.
This journey has three main results. A selection of mindsets to support collaborative design practices. An epigenic model, that aims to facilitate living in transition. Finally, this paper explores insights for a design education that emphasizes the importance of the inner state of the designer to envision and co-design desired futures.