Abstract
This study proposes an ontological redefinition of empathy in design practice. Empathy has been conventionally framed as a cognitive means for understanding users, often through techniques such as observation and interviews. In contrast, this study reconceptualizes empathy as a mode of being that emerges within relationships—including those involving more-than-human entities such as nature and things. This reconceptualization is termed “open-ended empathy,” which is grounded in bodily and ethical responsiveness that unfolds in being-with others, opening together into mutual transformation. Grounded in phenomenology and Japanese philosophy, the study analyzes a co-design practice conducted with university students in the context of a design project for a web magazine. Through qualitative description and phenomenological interpretation, four attitudes of being were revealed: “receiving without knowing,” “letting go of the self,” “being drawn into response,” and “decentering the self.” These findings suggest that empathy is not a fixed ability or technique, but a generative process that emerges within relationships. Open-ended empathy comprises three interrelated components: (1) attitude of openness, (2) care-oriented responsiveness, and (3) the potential for self- transformation. By reconceptualizing empathy in this way, the study offers a foundation for ethical and responsive design practices that can address the complexities and uncertainties of contemporary society and open possibilities for collaboratively reimagining future relationalities.
Keywords
Open-ended empathy; Design philosophy; Responsiveness; Ontology
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.217
Citation
Sumi, M.(2025) Open-ended Empathy: A Design Philosophy Grounded in Relation and Responsiveness, in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.217
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Track 1 - More Than Human-centered Design
Open-ended Empathy: A Design Philosophy Grounded in Relation and Responsiveness
This study proposes an ontological redefinition of empathy in design practice. Empathy has been conventionally framed as a cognitive means for understanding users, often through techniques such as observation and interviews. In contrast, this study reconceptualizes empathy as a mode of being that emerges within relationships—including those involving more-than-human entities such as nature and things. This reconceptualization is termed “open-ended empathy,” which is grounded in bodily and ethical responsiveness that unfolds in being-with others, opening together into mutual transformation. Grounded in phenomenology and Japanese philosophy, the study analyzes a co-design practice conducted with university students in the context of a design project for a web magazine. Through qualitative description and phenomenological interpretation, four attitudes of being were revealed: “receiving without knowing,” “letting go of the self,” “being drawn into response,” and “decentering the self.” These findings suggest that empathy is not a fixed ability or technique, but a generative process that emerges within relationships. Open-ended empathy comprises three interrelated components: (1) attitude of openness, (2) care-oriented responsiveness, and (3) the potential for self- transformation. By reconceptualizing empathy in this way, the study offers a foundation for ethical and responsive design practices that can address the complexities and uncertainties of contemporary society and open possibilities for collaboratively reimagining future relationalities.