I was shoveling pebbles last week. Nothing serious, just getting all the pebbles in the garden into a wheelbarrow. I did it for about 30 minutes or so. But the way I was doing it towards the end was not the same as when I started doing it.
I tried holding the shovel from the top of the handle, then maybe moved a little more to the middle. I tried gathering all the pebbles in the middle. I made adjustments as I went along. It wasn't a completely conscious choice. I just found myself doing that. Hypothesizing, testing, experimenting. The evolutionary way.
Hypothesizing, testing, experimenting.
Over the years, we've had different names for this process. One of the most popular ones would be the scientific method: the process of observing, asking questions, and seeking answers through tests and experiments. However, I think we'd be a little egotistical to think that humans came up with this problem-solving mechanism. This method does not belong to science, it is merely formalized by science. This method is ingrained in life itself. It's the very phenomenon of life.
I was fascinated by deep-sea brine pools. These pools will kill anything that goes in them because of the lack of oxygen, high salinity, and toxic gases. But they are also an oasis of life. Millions of creatures have adapted to use brine pools as a source of nutrition and live right on the edge of the pool. I doubt they used the scientific method to adapt and thrive. Their evolution was powered by the need to survive.
My design philosophy
So, I refuse to use human-centered design and will focus on solutions that prioritize balance between humans and nature. For far too long, we've adapted the environment to suit us, which is good for us in many ways—like having a warm house or the internet to share ideas. But I'd be fooling myself into thinking I'm an inclusive designer when my definition of inclusivity only includes humans and not the earth.
The earth has been and will be here for millions of years, me...maybe a 100? I'm not a savior, and maybe the earth doesn't need me to save it, but the least I want to do with my design work is not add negatively to our environment. My definition of inclusivity now includes the earth as a living environment as a focus. This is why I will actively be incorporating biomimicry into my work. Thanks to the work of historians and biologists, we have access to the context of millions of creatures, and we can learn from them and integrate it into our practice instead of reinventing the wheel with solutions that disturb the balance in nature.
Project update
My latest ongoing project, "On the Edge of Life," is a dress inspired by brine pools and the coexistence of life and death. I've just ordered the fabric and sequins, and I'm excited to share details and the final work soon :) Meanwhile, enjoy some sketches of my process.
Dress design concepts:
Pockets inspired by "pockets" of life A.K.A extremophiles that survive in harsh environments.
Coexistence of life, death and the void through spacial design on the outfit.
Sequins on the edges of the dress = life on the edges of brine pools.
K bye
Akshara <3
Definitions:
Scientific Method: A systematic way of exploring and understanding the world through observation, asking questions, forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, and drawing conclusions.
Biomimicry: An approach to design that seeks inspiration from nature's time-tested patterns and strategies to solve human problems. For example, creating materials or structures modeled after natural phenomena like spider silk or honeycombs.
Inclusivity: In the context of design, it means creating products, environments, or systems that are accessible and beneficial to all people, considering diverse needs and backgrounds. The writer extends this concept to include the natural environment as well.
Human-Centered Design: A design approach that prioritizes the needs, preferences, and experiences of humans. It involves understanding the people who will use the product or system and designing solutions that fit their needs.
Deep-Sea Brine Pools: Extreme underwater environments with high salinity and toxic conditions, where typical sea life cannot survive. However, some unique organisms have adapted to live in or around these pools, showcasing remarkable evolutionary adaptations.
Evolutionary Design: A design process that evolves over time through experimentation and adaptation, similar to how living organisms adapt to their environment. It involves trying different approaches, learning from results, and making continuous improvements.
Adaptation: The process by which organisms or systems change over time to better survive and thrive in their environments. In nature, this can be seen in physical changes or behaviors that enhance survival.
Sustainability: Designing and operating in ways that meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It involves minimizing negative impacts on the environment and promoting ecological balance.