Find The Gap – developing abilities in space consciousness for enhanced learning
Year: 2010
Editor: Boks W; Ion, W; McMahon, C and Parkinson B
Author: Simpson-Little, Diane; Long, Christopher
Section: EXPERIENCES WITH COURSES/EDUCATION
Page(s): 180-185
Abstract
Creativity and design is ultimately about making things that are visible, whether it is a chair, a sculpture, a poem or a theory. Nevertheless, it is where the initial creativity occurs in the important
concept stage, that design education can be approached from a different perspective. Rather than focussing on knowledge – on facts, theories, skills and problem solving methods we can also develop the ‘knower’ – the sense of self – the consciousness of the student. In the School of Engineering and Design, at the University of Sussex, we developed a set of tools and exercises in the area of consciousness, scenario visualization and guided meditation to enhance learning. If we regularly expand our container of knowledge within, we can not only enhance our learning through self-discovery and experimentation but also understand that our emotional and intuitive responses to experiences can enrich and enliven the way we design and communicate. It can also give inspiration and really advance creative abilities, and help us to understand that as designers, a successful product should emote all of the users senses.
Keywords: Consciousness, meditation, visualization, intuition, emotion