Design Reminders to Self

It’s been a while, there’s alot going on in the world and I’ve had my head down on multiple projects and organisations that I work with. Focusing on the doing. Alongside this juggling some chronic health elements in my life.

I’ve a long, ongoing project to sort through, weave and make sense and share more of what over 14 year of working in sustainable, circular, regenerative design in various forms and all that it has taught and evolved with me.

Here’s a starting list I found on my computer today that I’d started writing a while ago.

It made me smile, it reminded me of my purpose and it made me breathe……. perhaps it may help you too in some way.

A mini Manifesto for why Design or more of a note to self

  1. Pause, go slower and continually reflect, fast is overrated
  2. Always question, why?
  3. Explore systems and layers, zoom in and out of the system, business, product
  4. Creativity is the way, you have to consciously nurture it
  5. Continually reflect on values and how these are used and activated
  6. Explore, support, lift and make use of what’s already there, design resources, organisations, people
  7. Design with responsibility, design with care, design with heart
  8. Grow, but your own way and be mindful of enough
  9. Don’t get sucked into the commericalisation, tech, building brand and ego rather than real impact hype
  10. Observe and listen, inspiration is everywhere – tune into all your senses
  11. Look and be curious of the past, be and do in the present, imagine and create the future
  12. Honour the wisdom of others, those before, indigenous and cultures around the world
  13. Look to nature for guidance and integration
  14. Design with all and in mind, people, community, citizens and the more than human world
  15. Design together, collaborate, be more open
  16. Get curious about materials, the economy, systems
  17. Find joy, enjoy the journey and be open to continually evolve
  18. Spend more time offline
  19. Spend more time in nature, moving more
  20. Live, breathe ……..slower, deeper, breathe
  21. Be
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