As I reflect on the path that led me to this moment, I find myself drawn back to the very essence of existence – to the raw, untamed beauty of the human sensory experience. It’s a journey that began with a simple realization, sparked by years of exploration and introspection across various disciplines.
In the quiet solitude of December and January, amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, I took pause. I sifted through the remnants of past endeavors – the sketches, the notes, the half-formed ideas – and there, I discovered a common thread: a primal longing to reconnect with the elemental, the foundational aspects of human senses.
Perhaps this longing is heightened by our increasing reliance on digital technology and artificial intelligence, which profoundly impacts our behavior, personal relationships, and social interactions. How can we counterbalance this? What can I do as a designer and educator to embrace the unstoppable world transformation and reclaim our vital sensorial acquisition?
My journey into the realm of conscious design was forged through years spent in the interior design sector, where I grappled with the enigmatic nature of client needs. Too often, I found myself navigating the murky waters of ambiguity, tasked with deciphering the true desires buried beneath the surface of ostensible requests.
Yet, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, a fundamental question emerged: Was I merely catering to the whims of a saturated design market, or was I endeavoring to create something more profound – something that resonated with the human senses?
It was this question that spurred me to explore new horizons, to seek inspiration beyond the confines of my chosen field. Thus began my foray into the world of creative body movement and performance – a journey punctuated by workshops and training sessions, culminating in a significant encounter with the Barbara Mettler Method.
In this method, I found a common language – a shared lexicon of form, geometry, time, and narrative – that bridged the seemingly disparate realms of design and movement. It was a realization that the principles guiding my work as a designer were not confined to the realm of aesthetics but extended far beyond, into the realm of embodied experience.
From this realization emerged a new vision – a vision of conscious design, where the act of creation transcended mere pencil and software, where the essence of design lay in shaping the body, cultivating sensory awareness, and improvisational prowess informing the design process and consequently the final design.
Thus, my creative workshops were born – not merely as platforms for learning but as conduits for transformation, for unleashing creativity, and forging deeper connections with oneself and others.
In serving my community through these workshops, I found not only fulfillment but also inspiration – a constant wellspring of new ideas, new energies, new connections. And it is from this wellspring that the concept of conscious design emerges – a design ethos rooted in provocation, sensitivity, and above all, reverence for the human sensory experience.