Let’s Ripple Together
In a serene forest clearing, a radiant lake lies still, caressed by the sun’s rays. By day, the water’s surface sparkles with reflections; by night, it mirrors the tranquil sky. A gentle breeze coaxes aging leaves from their branches, releasing them to dance upon the water. As they tenderly kiss the lake’s surface, ripples whisper a story of nature’s serenity in motion. An occasional bird, bearing twigs for her nest, drops one, sending ripples to meet their leafy counterparts. I envision myself as that leaf – having served its purpose on the tree, now embarking on a new odyssey, with a fresh purpose bestowed by nature: regeneration. This reverie remained, gently guiding my reflections on a journey of curiosity and imagination.
As I began synthesizing my writings from the past thirty years, I realized that my fifty-year journey as a curious and compassionate designer had led me to a place where curiosity and imagination transcend ego, blurring the boundary between self and other. Throughout this time, concepts such as unmet needs, user research, and user experience started to feel inadequate in my quest to understand human nature, the nature of life, and collective consciousness. My professional engagements aimed at identifying opportunities for impact and influence, presence and profit began to feel shallow in comparison to the expanded awareness of our responsibility in maintaining tranquility in the environment we inhabit. My book is the result of this personal trajectory, reflecting on the insights and transformations I have experienced along the way.
Background:
“Being & Belonging” is the result of a two-and-a-half-year sabbatical during which I synthesized my writing from the past 30 years. This period of reflection coincides with the 50th anniversary of my class joining NID. The goal of this synthesis was to examine the evolution of my curiosity and imagination throughout my career. Over the years, I have had the privilege of collaborating with thought leaders in design and industry leaders interested in design philosophy, methods, and practices to benefit both their organizations and society. A unifying characteristic among my companions on this 30-year research journey has been their shared commitment to participatory design. Now, I’d like to discuss the book itself.
The Book
Unlike most design books that focus on documenting traditions, showcasing innovative design artifacts, or serving as handbooks for methods and processes, “Being & Belonging” embraces a biographical tone interspersed with poetry. While personal experiences are touched upon, the book primarily highlights insights and epiphanies gathered from researching people, cultures, and change in over 50 countries throughout the past three decades. A guiding curiosity during the writing process was revisiting how everyday people understand and practice design in their lives, and how designers can unveil the essence of human life experiences.
Why I Want to Discuss This
My fourth book, like the previous three, was not written with a business objective or as a marketing tool. Rather, they are outcomes of my commitment to influencing social imagination by creating literature that fosters design sensibilities in the way everyday people think, feel, and imagine. My target audience has always been everyday individuals who need encouragement to cultivate their innate creative abilities. I’ve used my books to facilitate community dialogues, aiming to nurture curiosity, compassion, and imagination in everyday people while encouraging designers to adopt participatory mindsets. Since the pandemic, I’ve organized over 40 or 50 dialogues in homes, bars, galleries, and libraries to inspire designerly curiosity in the larger world.
Let’s Ripple Together
Guided by the tranquil design of nature, I aspire to cultivate a similar harmony in my surroundings. I wish to share the insights and epiphanies from my book through conversations with individuals both within and outside the design field, as well as everyday communities. I invite my friends to join this collective endeavor, galvanizing ideas for a sustainable future.
The global launch is scheduled for March 22nd via Zoom, featuring distinguished voices from the design world and related disciplines. The event aims to gather 150–200 participants from nearly 20 countries. Prior to the global launch, I plan to hold more intimate dialogues in Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Vadodara, and Ahmedabad. We are all like leaves, clinging to a branch, but let us envision our greater purpose as we gracefully descend to the water’s surface, create ripples, and contribute to the serenity of our shared environment.
