Abstract
This research aims at supporting designers in developing a both embodied and reflective posture in practice – referred to as “enlightened subjectivity”. A dialogue is set up between the Samkhya, an early Buddhist philosophy at the basis of Yoga, and the design discipline. Grounded in practical experience, this inspirational framework allows approaching the sense-making process occurring in practice, through perception, understanding, action, and relation. This is sustained by professional posture, the specific way in which one invests their activity, giving it substance, meaning and justification. Implications for design education relate to increasing awareness among designers on their own posture, and learning to adjust it in different situations to achieve union – the meaning of “yoga”. Reflection is prompted on the use of tools and methods, on the meaning of action in design, and on the development of professional identity.
Keywords
professional posture, embodiment, experiential knowledge, reflexive practice
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2022.222
Citation
Berger, E. (2022) Design as posture: Developing enlightened subjectivity with the philosophy of yoga, in Lockton, D., Lenzi, S., Hekkert, P., Oak, A., Sádaba, J., Lloyd, P. (eds.), DRS2022: Bilbao, 25 June - 3 July, Bilbao, Spain. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2022.222
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Conference Track
Research Paper
Included in
Design as posture: Developing enlightened subjectivity with the philosophy of yoga
This research aims at supporting designers in developing a both embodied and reflective posture in practice – referred to as “enlightened subjectivity”. A dialogue is set up between the Samkhya, an early Buddhist philosophy at the basis of Yoga, and the design discipline. Grounded in practical experience, this inspirational framework allows approaching the sense-making process occurring in practice, through perception, understanding, action, and relation. This is sustained by professional posture, the specific way in which one invests their activity, giving it substance, meaning and justification. Implications for design education relate to increasing awareness among designers on their own posture, and learning to adjust it in different situations to achieve union – the meaning of “yoga”. Reflection is prompted on the use of tools and methods, on the meaning of action in design, and on the development of professional identity.