Purpose is the new Function

Function is over(rated). Not that we don't need to think about it or prepare to respond to needs, but, making (or consuming) design responding to function feels like such a lost opportunity. Defending that a design is only beautiful and meaningful when it follows function (a.k.a. smart, reasonable, content) results in forgettable objects and environments, susceptible to not last.

I propose that form follows purpose.

Our responsibility as designers is to create objects and environments which connect, create, enhance, stir, invite, shake, unveil, surprise, change lives. Beautiful, meaningful, purposeful objects. And, function? Function is a given, not a purpose. Of course it functions.

Design like you want to eat. Do you want to feed fuel? or feed surprise, sameness, sensuality, story?

Designing for function gave us an easy-ish escape to create from the mind. Sorry, not enough. Bring as much purpose into design (that you do, that you consume) as you possibly can. Then you will really change lives, starting with your own

Another love story

This story is about dancing. 

I am recently practicing, talking and reading about "material thinking". It has spread in academic design research discussions and practices, and as well in some professional processes. It consists in letting the materials guide the design, so rather than imposing a form and applying the material to it, we let the material "speak", or inform the result. 

While it might not sound like big news to you, I'd like to actually twist it up a notch. And invite to, instead of "material thinking", to "material dancing".

Material dancing is a kind of love story. It is a temporary one, where you (and your chosen material) allow an intimate connection to happen. No projections, no expectations, just generous opening up to both give and receive.

There is a dance session I practice regularly called "5 rhythms". Based on a technique by choreographer Gabrielle Roth, the dance session is about letting the body move to whatever rhythm the conductor is playing. To let yourself move and not think. So no mind-think, just body-think.

At times, you connect with one fellow dancer. And then something magic happens. When the two bodies connect through the rhythm, there is such a liberating, fun and free physical connection. The bodies speak to each other while there is no verbal exchange at all. 

This is the connection I invite to have with the objects surrounding us. Because when open to share and receive with that "other body", there is a magic flow, a temporary bond, a sense of belonging that changes us both forever.

And who said walls can't become dancing partners? As with people, if we underestimate their potentials, we are missing a lot of opportunities to discover.

Now, I'd like to hear from you:

• Can you imagine to invite yourself to a dance not in your room, but "with it"?

Special Daily vs the Daily Special

Have you observed that you perform the same movements every day? 

I always act in the same way when taking a shower: take the soap with the same hand and put it over my body in exact sequence; I spread on my moisturizer using the same strokes, and brush my teeth starting from the same side and with the same rhythm and speed, every time, three times a day.

Once daily moments become daily routines, we get numb to them: they become invisible. We don't even feel intimate gestures in very intimate parts.

While unexpected or dramatic happenings can bring us to realize the "around us", let's invite ourselves to daily noticing. Because if we numb to daily "nowness", we numb to any "nowness". We don't have selective levels of awareness - unless we exercise them.

Think of it as taking yourself on a "daily" tour, like if you were taking a friend for a tourist day in your home city. Looking with fresh eyes helps to discovering the invisible to your routinely passing by.  

Ready to un-numb? Try the following: brush your teeth with your left hand (or right, if you are left-handed). And let me know what happens in the comments below! 

A "special daily" can go a much longer way in rewiring your attention that waiting to be surprised by a possible "daily special". Which you may not even notice while immerse in your mechanical daily numbness anyway.

Pulling the Thread

Through the years, I found that the best way of working on a design project (which can also be translated into life projects) is what I call pulling vs pushing. Rather than having a preconceived image or idea, it consists of outstretching several options - threads. And start pulling each of them, until one appears to expand our options. Even beyond what we initially conceived.

Pulling often serves a side bundle of doubt, and also often - at least in my experience - it is difficult to "let go" that initial idea that I had pictured as desired end result.

When doing the first bit you'll see in the video above, I had no idea whatsoever that I would end up getting the rest of its sequence (so do hold on and watch the full minute :-). Just pulled.
Sometimes an insignificant fiber can expand into infinite opportunities and surprising beauty.

But I'd love to hear about your strains:

• Have you encountered pulling vs pushing? How did it untwine?

Can't wait to read about it in the comment section below.

Grind Growing

We hear, share and propose every end of the year exciting commitments. Grand personal and professional dream challenges.

Today I pledge for plucking out, instead, the strings for small-growth. Tuning into powdered, yet incremental growing can lead to major changes, over time.
If there is one important thing I have learned in the past years, it has been to surrender to the thread-by-thread pace of changes, rather than fight against it trying to rush them. They need their own growing flow in order for them to flourish.

Quoting marketer Seth Godin, vague plans are safely desirable though unhelpful. So let's grind down growth into actionable, believable and committable strings which to pull from every moment, every day.

The material invitation on this video invites to grind growing. Into small commitments. But a whole bush of them.

Now, I need your thicket of thought: 

• Can visualizing material growth pull out your own commitment to grow? 

Please do throw your threads in the comments section below. 

People Department

When going through different architecture schools - as student in the past, then as teacher, guest or visitor- there is one thing which puzzles me. In the School of Architecture (ETSA) in Madrid, which I will take as my example, there are departments to study: materials, construction, structures, linguistics, mathematics, graphic expression, urban planning, physics and installations. But no People Department.

Social studies are not intrinsic part of architect's education (not yet, not formal, at least not in Spanish Architecture schools). Sociologist Emilio Luque shares that, when invited as guest lecturer to ETSA Madrid, he felt that his input stirred momentary interest, but unlikely his passer-by input will make a dent.

What can People Department teach? Social ethics and behavior, emotional awareness and body consciousness.

While we continue to welcome architectural egos to design our cities, perhaps we reconsider who and why are we designing for, ultimately. Who suffers our design and production everyday. Please, Mr. Deans, get a People Department for your future architect's training. We need them on our side.

Claim Rain

Sometimes it just hits you. Even if you don't want it, you get it. You curse, change plans or avoid it. 

Wether or not it happens to you everyday where you live, it rains. And, since we cannot change its presence, why not working with it.

Instead of improving our protection from it: 

• Can a texture help us celebrate the rain? 
• Can this texture make sense only when it "gets rained"?
• How could a different take on materiality invite to expand our relationship with the rain? 

As this is an invitation to explore, do drop me your thoughts in the comments below!

Treat or Trick?

Can materials disguise themselves? Can they cover up and make us believe or feel something that is not really there?

There is only one way to find out: getting closer. And spending time with them.

Whenever you wish to get to know somebody better, you spend time with her, listen closely and pay attention to her opinions, how she is acting and what her preferences are.

When we get close to materials around us, listen to them and appreciate their presence, a new relationship arises. They will speak to you, and then you will rapidly recognize if they are treating or tricking you.

Back in the early 00's, I was collaborating in the production of a TV segment about architects Diller Scofidio+Renfro. Together with a filming crew, we spent two full days shooting the space and details of their interior design Brasserie in NYC. It was a fantastic experience to enjoy for so long the discovery of so many details the architects had projected, so many material nuances, stories and surprises, everywhere. The space is so rich with material storytelling I enjoyed so much the playful experience of being there. 

Whenever you are attracted to a particular texture, follow up beyond the trick, get closer and let it treat you.