Happy New Year(ning)
As the New year's wishes fade,
the momentum for new plans gain.
But are the plans in anyway New?
Is the Yearly Yearnings changed its objects
or objectives?
has it transformed to anything else?
As we get ready to start the 'Conscious Designing' Inquiry Project, sharing some queries, ponderings and background.
What is New? What is not?
What is Conscious?
Designing What?
I cannot answer these Q’s but we will definitely explore them during the Designing talks.
It might sound paradoxical. but Nothing is New and in some way everything can be New every so often in its lifespan.
New year is built upon the previous, a birth of new life is continuation of its already existing species, a new painting is a result of the preceding art practice, a new Idea arrives after passing through the old (mostly outdated) thoughts in tired mind. So lets be conscious of our thoughts and ideas and actions. Its not about designing but for enriching ourselves.
About project
The project starts from November 2023 as part of AmericaRecyclesDay. and formally begins from 2024. Introductory talks here
Aim- Exploring the scope of Designing beyond parameters of Arts to include Interdisciplinary views and Mindful practices while Designing.
Nature of project- Inquiry based. Can include- Virtual Talks/ Make handmades/ Events/ Exhibits
As part of this project, we will restart Meet and Make while looking at ‘Waters’
This project, unlike previous ones, is open ended in many ways. Meaning, the goal is not to achieve a certain aim, rather to explore the aspects of designing with a mindful approach, making the ‘process’ important.
It can be an open space allowing collective works, collective understanding, collective consciousness to happen.
Design is not just about making, it emcompasses the whole process of Ideas, thoughts, intention, attention and execution.
It is not always about making/ creating something but can include how we arrange objects or spaces, not necessarily in just art galleries, Creative places but even in our everyday makes in our homes and our offices. That means Designing need not be a privileged undertaking of the few Art practitioners, it can be touched upon by anyone with or without prior experience/ knowledge. Of Course there will be difference in end results of what a layman does versus a practitioner makes.
Many Designs (some mentioned here) inspired me, not just for its looks or execution style but also the quality of involvement of the maker. not all designs might have all the criterion of conscious designing or for that matter even 'designing' but there was totality in involvement that impressed me as an Art Facilitator. Such ways of working, I thought, might promote Originality?
Acknowledgements
I am grateful to our member friends Julie Nieset, Dr Sowmya Anand, Nazannie Agassi, Ms Chong Hwey Fee, Ms Megan who supported and encouraged experimental projects.
We as a group are Thankful to our previous year’s collaborators of Water project - Urbana Park DIst., AACC, Planted, IAS Library and other big and small groups.
My gratitude also to Phil Nyman and Seth Feldman for pursuing our Inner-outer talks that have. helped my decisions in coming up with the nature of 'Conscious designing'.
Painted repurposed Map as part of redesigning a room..
It has been a joy and privilege to experience the many Designing moments while organizing our Art projects and to come across the many inspiring artists/ crafters/ makers. i will always be Thankful for these chances to learn.
There can be multiple facets to design(ing)- innovative, Functional, Social, Psychological, Ecological, Economical, Cultural, Contemporary, etcetera etcetera. Since its a vast topic, we can look at each aspect separately in the posts to follow. Stay tuned.
join me with your thoughts, views, enthusiasm, but most importantly with your mindful presence and positive spirit to explore Conscious Designing inquiries in hope to discover ways of enriching our lives and wellbeing for all.