I began my research on the nature of experience in different traditions with the oldest tradition of all, spirituality.
I haven't finished. I discovered a wealth of reflection on the spiritual experience, not only as an accumulation of millennia of spiritual experiences, but also an enormous corpus of commentary, theological and philosophical, relating to the spiritual experience. In fact, I'm overwhelmed by the quantity of human endeavor that's gone into understanding this profound variety of experience. It'll take me several more days to assimilate and incorporate it in an entry on this blog.
What strikes me immediately, however, is how little of this thinking is reflected in contemporary discussions about experience, outside the spiritual community; in particular, in the field of design. It's as if designers have purposely sequestered spiritual experience (which many designers express in their more personal descriptions of the things they see and feel), thereby keeping design “pure” and undisturbed by untamable spirituality. This lack of interior fire weakens the practice of design. If design doesn't touch people in their spiritual core, in the soul of their being, it's simply an intellectual exercise or a pitch piece, even at its most artful.
I'm going to ponder this and incorporate my thoughts on the matter in my discussion about spiritual experience. You might ponder it yourself and examine your own work as a designer. Does it have a spiritual dimension? In your practice of design? In the expression of the designs that you produce, whatever your medium?
For the next several days, I will be moving myself from tourist-overrun Santa Monica to the quiet hotness of Tucson, on the edge of the Sonora Desert. It's a good place to think about things spiritual. Many of humankind's most dramatic spiritual experiences, the home of religions including but more diverse than the Abrahamic trio (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). The stark reality of the desert environment can infect one with a divine madness. The desert itself is a drama that, experienced, leaves strong and lasting impressions. It's been known to reshape the soul.
(Images: Mandala, Princeton University Anthropology; Sonora Desert, Alan Bauer)
BOB JACOBSON is fascinated by the experience of experience. A planner and technologist, Bob has a Ph.D. in Urban Planning & Design from UCLA. He's been a policy researcher, technology CEO, science writer, and consultant. As a Fulbright Scholar, he studied cellular telephony's impacts on transborder communities in the Nordic Arctic Circle. Bob edited Information Design (MIT Press 2000) and is now writing a book on the theory and practice of creating edifying, transformative experiences.
PAULA THORNTON says, "Understanding human behavior (economics), optimizing interactions (design) and facilitating conversations (markets), are the means to achieve strategic differentiation. This is the focus of our discipline. It is not a 'nice to have'‚ and is not, like documentation once was, an afterthought. It is the means by which to start a strategic discussion and the means by which to drive a tactical initiative. All design should be evidence-based."
1. David Armano on June 2, 2007 7:09 PM writes...
Bob,
Getting out to the desert sounds like a wonderful idea. I have no doubt that you will gain insight and clarity not only spiritually but also in regards to your quest to define the ever elusive notion of "experience".
I'll be patiently watching and waiting but more importantly enjoy the solitude and serenity.
Look forward to updates.
Permalink to Comment2. Chris Pallé on June 4, 2007 4:07 PM writes...
As a matter of fact, I have and I am.
In my everlasting search for purpose, I've realized that others-centered design is precisely what God had in mind when He created us. I am coming from the Judeo-Christian perspective. The second most important tenet in Christianity is to do for others - not for ourselves. With that as the underlying basis for all decisions in the design process, as a Christian designer, one can say that the end-product is others-centric.
I'm not sure if I'm articulating this the way I should because I'm just beginning to explore this notion, but I can say that it's not grounds for philosophical debate or challenging of spiritual beliefs. It's plain and simple: God wants us to - out of love - put others before ourselves. Take that to drawing board and pin all design decisions to it and we should be able to stick to and remember that "The User is not Like Me." (Interaction Designer John Kolko credited this expression to Professor Bonnie John at Carnegie Mellon University's HCII.)
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