There is a distinction between surviving and thriving. Surviving just means we’re alive. To do that we need food, clothing and shelter and anything beyond this is superfluous. But what makes us different from other animals is that we need more than to just survive- we want to thrive.

 

With my background being in spatial design, I have seen a heavy focus on creating hyper functional designs. The questions driving the design process are very technical and solution oriented. The aim is to solve a problem, and nothing more. Beyond this, deeper things like emotions and how design makes you feel is rarely thought of.

 

When you look beyond the basics, you start shaping an experience rather than just finding a solution. A space with a higher purpose than simply enabling existence becomes architecture, design.

 

Emotions distinguish a solution from design. It distinguishes the ordinary from luxury.

 

Design can change the world. It can change the world in ways that might not be tangible, but can affect you deeply. We need to start looking beyond simply the base physiological needs and start appealing to the human psyche. It is only then that thoughts are provoked, emotions are stimulated and thriving begins.

 

Do you need design to survive? No. But, when you look at society and culture at large, then design is deeply necessary.

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It is a part of what it means to be human.