WOII: Week 1 - Phenomenology
When I think of Phenomenology â I think about how no two people truly experience the same thing in the same way. We somehow shape our realities with our backgrounds, personal experiences, and emotions. This means, what one person sees, another may interpret completely differently.
As I reflect about it, I realise that this is what makes the human experience so rich and complex - which is why it got me thinking about how I can apply this concept to my design training.Â
My thoughts are: if no two people experience the same moment in the same way, then as a designer, I should not assume a single, universal interpretation of my work. Instead, designing with an awareness - that people often carry with them their own histories, emotions, and associations to their perceptions of what they see and how they interact with the world - is more meaningful. This enriches creative design rather than complicates it. It encourages me to be more empathetic to people's emotional states, more curious, and more intentional about the different layers of meaning in my designs.
The class activity helped me practise what I have been thinking.
I found something I observed to be quite interesting â how time was expressed differently among my classmates. Even my own drawing was interpreted in unexpected ways when presented to everyone. This proved to me that no matter how clear I think I am being in my design work, people will always bring their own experiences to it. And that is not a flaw. It edifies and enhances. That, in itself, is a strength.
I think by understanding the diversity of human experiences, I can intentionally design a piece of art that creates a mood or emotion which can resonate with my audience on a deeper level. For example, in my abstract art â I can select and combine certain colours and forms to bring about a certain atmosphere.
I canât control exactly how each person will experience the work, but I can design it to evoke a feeling â whether itâs calm, tension, excitement, or nostalgia â that connects with others.
By understanding peopleâs backgrounds, emotions, and the way they interpret the world â I can craft a design that is more likely to connect with them. This approach allows me to create work that feels more universal in its ability to elicit emotional responses, while still respecting the unique perspective of each viewer. It's not about trying to please everyone, but about connecting with people through shared emotions and experiences in design.
In this way, phenomenology enhances my design process by teaching me that design is not just about what is seen â it is about how it is felt and experienced by those who engage with it.
Harris, John. "Shared Emotions: A Steinian Proposal." Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, vol. 18, no. 2, 2019, pp. 287â307. Springer, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11097-018-9561-3.
