COP3: Practical Brief Evaluation

Overall, I think the practical response to this brief has been carried out successfully as I have had a clear idea of what to do from the outset and have not struggled with any aspect of how I wanted to go about producing the final outcome. From having a lot of research and knowledge of this topic after writing the first part of this brief, my intentions for the outcome had to be clear and had to reflect on from the essay. The brief for the practical outcome asked to relate on the same literary sources as the essay, I think I have successfully been able to do this as I have drawn a lot from Martino Gamper, Jon Kobat-Zinn and the Mindfulness Design Company. The space is designed for students, I thought this would be the most appropriate and successful because they struggle a lot in terms of coping with stress. Therefore having this space within their university gives them a chance to escape for a short while to an area that is a lot more calm and relaxed. I think the downfall of the practical outcome lies with how I have managed to show what the room would look like, I found it difficult to portray it down through sketches and drawings as I was hoping to produce it in a architectural style, however I don’t think this has worked out as well as I hoped it would. Luckily I have been able to explain my ideas through the blog posts and these design boards so people will understand the intentions behind each decision made.

COP 3: Project Statement

Project Statement

To what extent can design be used for a person’s mindfulness? I chose this question and theme because over the past few years I have become more aware with the term mindfulness and the positive benefits it can have on a person. Having some knowledge and understanding already surrounding this topic, I knew that this would benefit me in terms of knowing where to look and what to look for research starting points and also the ability to have a sensitive approach to the question and possibly touch upon areas of mental health. 

From carrying out this research, it became apparent in the early stages that the responses to the question within my essay would pretty much all be positive and highlight the great extent to which design can be used in relation to mindfulness. Researching into literary sources and websites gave me the chance to look at both practicing designers and professors, getting a good understanding of the positive benefits for a person when they begin to consider mindfulness within their daily lives. Within my essay, I looked at both how design itself can have a positive impact on a person’s mindfulness and also how being mindful can help benefit a person’s design work. With this in mind, it became clear that my initial idea of creating a mindful space where people could go to relax would be an interesting approach to take because I would take the points made within the essay and translate them into a design piece. 

Moreover, deciding to create a space for students within Leeds Arts University was becoming a great option because it would allow me to create an environment that draws from what I learnt through writing the essay. From looking at Martino Gamper’s, Design is a State of Mind exhibition, I took from that how he wanted to stress the importance of everyday objects and how they influence a person’s behavior, this was related to my practical piece through figuring out what kind of objects would be most beneficial to include within the space in order to allow students to focus on being mindful and take away their stresses. Another key bit of research that I translated into the design piece was from the Mindfulness Design Company and their article on the key benefits of mindfulness for design. As two key points were focus and creativity, I drew on that within the space created and it allowed me to create an environment where students could focus their mind on something that isn’t university work, whilst still allowing them to be creative.

The conclusions made in both my essay and design piece were that design has an incredibly positive impact on a person’s mindfulness, especially as it allows them to focus their mind on something to take away a lot of stresses they may feel. I think the conclusions made within my essay reflect my practical piece as they highlight the importances of being more mindful and show people various ways in which they can carry out mindfulness activities. 

Finally, if I were to make any improvements or do anything differently within this module, I would focus it on the practical element as I think the final outcome could have been executed better if I had taken more time to think about how I could present the ideas through sketches and drawings as I think they are explained a lot clearer through my explanations of why each thing has been designed that way and why I have placed a certain object in an area.

COP3: Design Boards

COP 3: Practical Brief- Final sketch/mock up

This final sketch/mock up shows how I would pitch this idea to the university in order for it to become a space for the students. I have colour coded at the bottom which part is which within the space so that the design can be clearly understood.

COP3: Practical Brief- Developed Sketches

Furthermore, using my initial sketch ideas, I took the best two forward and developed them into a lot more detail and colour coded them so they were a lot easier to understand. As I was not able to physically create this room, it was important that my sketches were as detailed as they could be in order for the work created to be understood clearly. Adding small illustrations where I could meant that whoever would be looking at this plan, for example if it were a situation where it was being proposed to the university to possibly be considered for a room included. The two sketches may seem quite similar, but the close detail shows how they differ in terms of where things are placed, it was important to keep in mind Gamper’s statements of people considering the importance of everyday objects and how they affect their behaviours. Within figure 1, there is a big emphasis on the beanbag area of the space, this encourages students to interact with others to perhaps share any thoughts or just general conversation. This interaction allows individuals to consider both themselves and others around them. This is contrasted in figure 2 where there is a lot more emphasis on having a more quiet and alone space for the student, I decided that this may be slightly more beneficial as it can allow them to be a lot more calm and relaxed, ultimately leading them to be more mindful.

COP3: Practical Brief- Initial Sketches

These quick thumbnail like sketches are just different variations of how I would want the layout of the space to be set up. They are not in great detail as I am yet to decide on how I want the final design to look but just experiments of how I think the space can be best utilised and have the best benefit for students in terms of having an area where they can practice being more mindful.

I think having both benches and beanbags can offer a nice calm environment for people using the space, I like the ideas of the benches facing out the windows so that students can look out, have windows open and feel they have a better area to breathe and relax. I do not want this space in any way to look like a working studio therefore the organisation does not need to be fully uniformed or organised because it should have a relaxed feel to it.

COP3: Practical Brief- Wayfinding

COP3: Research Practical Brief

Bringing the outside in

A lot of people suggest to be more mindful then a person should get more exercise and be outdoors, when a student is in university all day, it can quickly become difficult for them to feel like they have had any fresh air and it can be quite chlostrophobic. So like the plants, there are also other ways to try and make the space feel open and airy. 

This could be done like the image above, the wayfinding leading to the room could be artificial grass footprints. The floor within the room could also be made up of outdoor and indoor materials, such as carpet compared to artificial grass.  

COP3: Research Practical Brief

Motivational quotes/sayings

A lot of these quotes can seem quite 'cheesy' and people often can find them quite cringey also. However, if worded well, some of them can actually be quite inspirational and motivating for a person as if they were having a bad day it would be nice for students to see something positive.

COP3: Research Practical Brief

The Mindfulness Colouring Book

"The bestselling adult colouring book!

Working with your hands is one of the best ways to soothe anxiety and eliminate stress. This stunning, pocket-sized colouring book offers a practical exercise in mindfulness that draws on your creativity and hones your focus." - Amazon

I have seen this book around a lot in recent years, however I have never tried it for myself so I took to Amazon reviews to see what people thought and had to say about it.

Most reviews of this were incredibly positive and people really loved it, a lot of people seemed to comment on how it really helped to relieve stress and anxiety- this is definitely another object that I want to include within the mindful space.

COP3: Research Practical Brief

If the space I will create will be within Leeds Arts University, then it may be key to consider the points made by the Mindfulness Design company and the benefits of being more mindful and how it helps with design.

1. Creativity
2. Focus
3. Perspective and Empathy
4. Reduce stress and improve positivity

Students would appreciate a space that allows them to relax and switch off from the work they are doing, therefore I am going to consider the importance of each object that will be put within the space and how they can positively impact on them.

1. Plants
2. Bean bags
3. Cushions
4. Large Windows
5. Posters
6. Inspirational quotes
7. Books
8. Magazines
9. Supplies for sketching and colouring

COP3: Practical Brief Research

House Plants:

House plants are often used in large spaces and within peoples homes, bedrooms etc.

There have also been noted physical and mental health benefits of house plants.

House Plants Assist in Easier Breathing

Our body takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide when we breathe. During photosynthesis, plants do absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Thus, this opposite pattern of gas use makes plants and people natural partners. So, by adding house plants to the interior spaces, we can increase the oxygen levels inside.

House Plants are Beneficial in Quick Recovery and Overall Health

Most of us must have noticed house plants placed in hospitals. As per researchers at Kansas State University, adding house plants to hospital rooms actually speed up recovery rates of surgical patients, compared to patients in rooms without house plants. It is also noticed that patients in rooms with the house plants experience less pain and request less pain medication, have lower heart rates and lower blood pressure, experienced less anxiety and fatigue and also were released from the hospital sooner.

Benefits of House Plants in Improving Sleep

House plants aid in improving sleep. You can have an improved sleep by keeping house plants, especially like Gerbera daisies that give off oxygen at night.

Benefits of House Plants in Improving Focus and Mental Acuity

House plants are known to increase our focus, memory , heighten our attention and enhance creativity in us by increasing the oxygen in the air we breathe and by removing pollutants present in the air inside our home.

Mental Health Benefits of House Plants

House plants can contribute to our feeling of wellbeing, make us calmer and be optimistic. They help us in improving our mental health. Research has shown that having house plants help in reducing stress, anxiety, and enhance feelings of calm and improve mood and self esteem to a greater way. Plants in house also aid in easing feelings of depression and enhance general feeling of well being and mind.

HOUSE PLANTS= FOCUS

(something that being mindful improves)

COP 3: Practical Brief

You will produce a cohesive body of work in relation to your research question and drawing on knowledge generated within your essay. Your work must demonstrate an expert knowledge of the graphic design discipline and as such must be presented professionally and documented thoroughly. Your work can be innovative, experimental and/or explorative however, the project MUST culminate in a final graphic design outcome that is representative of a coherent examination and argument developed throughout the module. The documentation of this project must show how your ideas/outcomes relate to your essay by drawing on the same literature sources.

IDEA

From early on in the process of this COP module, I had decided that a good idea for the practical element would be to design a space.

A space that would incorporate all the elements that I had researched and learnt throughout my essay.

A mindful space.

One of the main things to consider would be where the space would be put, I thought it would be a good idea to have the space within the university because stress and anxiety in students is incredibly common as they are put under a lot of pressure.

The space would also consider signage and wayfinding, so another way to link both my essay and practical piece. 

COP 3: Essay

Contents page

1- Contents page

2- Introduction

3-12- Main text

13- Conclusion

14- References

This essay will explore how design can be used to influence and help with a person’s mindfulness. This will be done through looking at and researching different techniques that are used within design to achieve this positive mindset, for example the colours used within a piece of work or where the work is placed. This will then lead to looking how effective these design techniques and styles are in response to a person’s mindfulness and whether they can have a great influence on them. The essay will also explore various professionals, artists, designers and curators approaches to this subject and compare whether their techniques or theories have been followed through with or are effective. The aim of this essay piece is to conclude whether the increasingly popular use of design can in fact have a positive impact on a person’s mindfulness and whether the curation of these pieces of work or exhibitions make for an all round positive outcome. The idea of mindfulness, is often referred to as self-care is something which has become popular especially among the millennials, therefore there are plenty of other activities that relate to this and there have been many studies that show if people work hard on themselves, they will become a much happier and positive person, having a much better outlook on their day to day life. The question now is to understand why people look to design to achieve this positive mindset and how their techniques allow the brain to become more calm and relaxed.

Jon Kabat-Zinn is the creator of the research-backed stress-reduction program Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and he explains how mindfulness lights up parts of our brains that aren’t normally activated when we’re mindlessly running on autopilot. He teaches mindfulness, which he says can help people cope with stress, anxiety, pain, and illness. Moreover, the mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) created by Jon Kabat-Zinnis offered through medical centres, hospitals, and health maintenance organisations. There are plenty of informative videos available online where Kabat-Zinn talks about mindfulness in lots of detail and the practises he performs to help people, within the video titled ‘Jon Kabat-Zinn Me Me Me’, created for the Mindfulness website, he defines mindfulness as a ‘Way of connecting with your life, something that doesn't involve a lot of energy but involves a kind of cultivating attention in a particular way, so they way I define it is it's paying attention on purpose in the present moment non-judgementally.’ (Kabat-Zinn, 2015) This ultimately means mindfulness can only be achieved when the person is truly focused on himself or herself, whilst still being aware of what is going on around them. Although Kabat-Zinn’s work is not in any form design related, it is still important to consider other insights from professionals about how to practice achieving mindfulness, especially as he has completed immense studies around this subject area. The evaluation of effectiveness of his studies have also shown there is a long term benefit of people struggling with mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety have found the practice of mindfulness beneficial, Kabat-Zinn describes it as allowing us ‘to be in a wiser relationship with things that are going on in our lives’ (Kabat-Zinn, 2015). It has been shown to reduce anxiety levels by 58% and stress by 40%. In a research study by Oxford University into individuals with 'problematic' levels of stress, a significant improvement in perceived levels of stress over the course of the online mindfulness intervention was found (Krusche et al, 2013). The findings of this research were consistent with other studies, which showed that changes in mindfulness 'precede changes in perceived stress' (Baer et al, 2012).Ultimately showing the positive impact mindfulness has on our lives. 

Looking at mindfulness through a design perspective is very similar to how Jon Kabat-Zinn has talked multiple times about how it should be practised. Martino Gamper created the ‘Design Is A State Of Mind’ exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery. Gamper’s design practice includes, performance, exhibition making, interior design, specialist commissions and the design of mass-produced products for the international furniture industry and this exhibition was heavily focused on bookshelves and storage units. The pieces that were created for the exhibition represent some of the great designers that have shaped the last century and bring awareness to the ways in which their designs have shaped our lives. The exhibition very cleverly relates to mindfulness and Kabat-Zinn’s definition of it as Gamper had a clear object for this exhibition, as he wanted people ‘to be so intrigued by what they find in the show that they question their perception of design and reconsider how different objects and environments affect their behaviour and the choices they make.’ (Gamper, 2014) Just like the idea of mindfulness allowing a person to be in this wiser relationship with themselves and what is going on around them, designs created with a purpose will make an individual consider the environment around them and what is working in order to release positive energy. 

The idea of design being able to shape our lives is key to consider when relating it to mindfulness as this relates to anything we surround ourselves with. Your environment shapes you, which means both the positive and negative aspect of a persons life defines how they approach and relate to the world. Gamper based his designs on influential designers that have had a significant impact within the design world, therefore highlighting the importance of always looking for the great in something and always aspiring to be the best version of you. He wanted people to leave ‘with a sense that design can be much more than a nicely designed chair’ (Gamper, 2014), this can be interpreted that Gamper’s aim for the exhibition was to make people consider making changes to their everyday life’s in order to benefit their state of mind. When asked what he think defines good design, Gamper responds with, ‘good design should combine function, materiality, form and I think it should also respond to behaviour a little bit: what this object does in a social context, how it changes our behaviour, or how it helps our behaviour.’ (Gamper, 2014) If everything that is designed, no matter how big or small, has an influence on the space it is placed in then creating something positive will automatically enable a person to become more mindful, as they will feel comfortable and relaxed within that environment. This again relates to the studies of Kabat-Zinn because it is allowing the individual to consider the present moment and focus on what is happening there and then. 

Another philosopher, Guy Sircello, writes analytical approaches to philosophical aesthetics, which led to his essay on mind and art, where again the similarities of positive design influencing mindfulness are shown. When discussing design it gets personified as if it were an object, ‘works of art that express those sorts of things seems to imply that they are very much like persons’ (Sircello, 1972) this is talking about peoples feelings, emotions, attitudes and moods. Connecting to Gamper’s approach of relating design to social contexts and behaviours, allowing a person to be shaped by the design that is around them. In order to achieve mindfulness, a person needs to be open to some change surrounding their daily environment; this is usually where the design aspect will profoundly come into it. Adapting your surroundings usually starts with objects like furniture and if a person is encouraging them to be more mindful, relaxed and calm, it becomes more likely for the person to consider where these objects are placed within their personal space.  

The discussion of why and where objects are placed, leads on to environmental design, something which can be explored in relation to mindfulness as it is another means in which to attain it. Every single piece of design that is created has a purpose to it, whether it being an object like furniture or a poster to advertise a new film, nothing is ever created without any meaning. This again automatically encourages us to think about why ‘we constantly try to understand our ever-changing highly complex existence by seeking order in it’ (Papanek, 1971). Victor Papanek’s book, Design For The Real World discusses how we are constantly trying to validate and analyse everything we do in terms of how we live our life. When in fact, ‘design is the conscious and intuitive effort to impose meaningful order’ (Papanek, 1971) and without realising it, people impose it on their daily life in order to seek out mindfulness. Papanek also relates to the idea of design being used to influence a person’s behaviour as ‘design is basic to all human activity’ (Papanek, 1971), whether realising it or not. This is where it becomes important to consider environmental design and what affect this can have on a person if we are constantly looking to what is around us in order for it to benefit our attitudes or behaviours.

Environmental design’s purpose is to help make your space more practical, interesting and easy to navigate in an aesthetic way. The multidisciplinary profession that encompasses industrial design, architecture, graphic design and landscape architecture was established because of the complexity of the environment we move in on a daily basis and the introduction of wayfinding makes sure people can move around efficiently within a space. ‘Environmental graphic design is concerned with the graphic communication of information in the built environment, which is just about anything built by human intent’ (Calori and Vanden-Eynden, 2015), relating to the idea that every piece of design is created with intention and has a purpose. The intention of environmental design is to help a person usually get from one place to another, its put in place to avoid confusion. It can be related to mindfulness and how humans function as behaviours affect how people think, feel and act. This also led to the introduction of wayfinding and signage systems, which orient and navigate people efficiently around usually a built-up area. 

Relating the effectiveness of environmental design and wayfinding to mindfulness is not something that is incredibly obvious, but the previous points made about all design having purpose and how design affects human behaviour will influence how an individual can remain calm and relaxed through stressful situations. ‘Signage and interpretive exhibits can create a sense of place, as can gateways, portals, gathering points or landmarks.’ (Calori and Vanden-Eynden, 2015) People often visit calming places or often embark in forms of therapy or relaxing exercises, which will use wayfinding systems to navigate around. This means that the individual can focus on the present, not the past or future, something which Kabat-Zinn explains that is highly common when situations become over analysed, leading to increased stress or anxiety levels. 

Furthermore, designing an environment to encourage mindfulness has become increasingly popular as individuals are acknowledging the need to focus on themselves in order to be happier. A popular Danish theme, Hygge, it is a mood of cosiness and comfort, with feelings of wellness and contentment. Hygge originates from a Danish word meaning to give comfort, courage and joy, which are moods that are often associated with achieving mindfulness, it refers to a psychological state of feeling safe within yourself. People often incorporate Hygge into their everyday life so ‘it becomes a natural extension rather than a forced or stressful event’ (Hygge House, 2014). There are plenty of Hygge tips that you can access online or in books, they often encourage you to first start of with taking simple steps of introducing Hygge into your life with things such as, candles, going for long walks, reading a book or making your home more Hygge. These steps are similar, if not the same to help a person become more mindful, therefore having a much more positive mind-set and outlook on life. 

In a recent news article written about Hygge, it portrays it as something incredibly positive and encourages people to take part in it. It is also described as ‘the absence of anything annoying or emotionally overwhelming; taking pleasure from the presence of gentle, soothing things.’ (Russell, 2015) Incredibly similar to how people want to feel when being mindful, and design has a huge part to play in having a Hygge feeling, as it is all about whom and what you surround yourself with. Denmark has been voted one of the happiest countries to live in; therefore their practise of Hygge must be beneficial to a person’s quality of life. ‘Studies show a clear link between gratitude and wellbeing. But another important thing to remember when it comes to understanding Hygge is that it’s about experiences rather than stuff.’ (Wiking, 2015) Meik Wiking is the CEO of The Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, he says the Danes ‘appreciate low-cost activities and the simple things in life, like having a coffee and lighting some candles to create a cosy atmosphere’ (Wiking, 2015), relating to Kabat-Zinn’s recommendations on how to achieve mindfulness. 

When thinking about design and Hygge, it’s clear to see that to live a Hygge life you have to adapt your living situation into something much more comfier, which means a person will be thinking about how they can create a space and how each object now has a specific purpose rather than it just being placed there because it looks nice. Their environment becomes more comfortable, making it easier to relax and learning how to be kinder to ones self. In addition, Hygge ultimately boots a person’s mindfulness, ‘research shows that people who are able to be kind to themselves rather than harshly self-critical tend to have a better mental health and higher life satisfaction.’ (Dr Williamson, 2015). As Director of Action for Happiness, Dr Mark Williamson speaks highly within this article of a more Hygge way of life as it boots ‘our own wellbeing leaving us better placed to contribute and help others.

To further back this argument of mindfulness benefiting every aspect of a person’s life, the practises of mindfulness also encourage a greater focus, empathy and creativity. There is a clear link of having a clear and focus mind leading too much more productivity in completing work, when designing; it requires an abundance of analytical thinking. Learning various methods and practises in order to carry out the design process, this is something that takes an individual a lot of concentration and energy. It is significant to remember that ‘objects and environments affect their behaviour and the choices they make,’ (Gamper, 2014) which can also be applied to a workspace environment. When considering how a person may work best, take into account that ‘focus, empathy and creativity are all skills that can be learned and there are concrete things you can do to become better at all this’ (Au, 2015), most pieces of design start with a problem or task that the designer will have to solve, having a clear mind is key in reaching any form of solutions for this and to produce a piece of work to be proud of. Often, designers are faced with creative blocks and struggle to know what direction to go in, the article ‘How yoga and meditation can help people become better designers’ discusses various techniques to encourage designers to take when they encounter this problem. As part of Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programme, individuals take part in mediation, an activity used to clear ones mind and help them focus on the things that matter. When applying this to design, consider the scenario of working hard on a problem, when taking a small step back from the problem and letting the mind relax, it will become easier to reach some insight and find a solution. The article encourages hard working designers to consider activities such as yoga and meditation to help with creativity,’ mindfulness practices are techniques that allow us to drive within the mind and intellect and transcend that so we can experience that deepest level within ourselves, that treasury.’ (Au, 2015) It is worth noting that the article highlights that ‘companies as diverse as Google, General Mills and the insurance company Aetna offer meditation and yoga classes’ (Au, 2015) furthermore highlighting the importance of a clear mind in order to work at the highest of capabilities within design. 

When relating this back to the Design For The Real World exhibition, there are similarities involving the way Gamper took this opportunity to help people consider when they left the exhibition every object around them and how this encourages people to remain focused on what is important in terms of having a clear mind. When thinking about mindfulness techniques relating to design, the most obvious ones like colour and environment come to mind but the designer has to think about every single aspect they want a person to think or feel when experiencing their work, ‘the principles of yoga and brain science are converging and together can create a blueprint for transformation’. (Au, 2015) The article concludes by pointing out that ‘with meditation and yoga, you can change your bran and how you move through the world’ (Au, 2015), with it offering a clearer clarity and mind in order for a person to be more productive throughout their day. It also leads to an increase in stress levels, ultimately hugely benefiting the designer as unsolved issues or briefs often lead to a pile up of angst and worry. 

Considering Gamper’s theory on good design and ‘how it changes our behaviour, or how it helps our behaviour’ (Gamper 2014), the Mindfulness Design Company believe human connections create the best future for a business. Like the previous article, they discuss ways of using mindfulness techniques within the work environment to become more focused and productive, but they go into a lot more detail about the key benefits of mindfulness for designers and how it supports their practice. Mindfulness has great confident impacts on abilities for creative problem solving and decision-making, these involve thinking divergently, convergently and critically. This applies to when a designer is encouraged to think broad with their idea and come up with something incredibly creative and unique and ‘with mindfulness providing the right mental environment, you can play with ideas and explore new and exciting futures.’ (Hart, 2017) Moreover, focus is something else important to have for designers, being mindful leads to a greater focus and as Kabat-Zinn defined mindfulness as ‘paying attention on purpose in the present moment non-judgementally’ (Kabat-Zinn, 2015), its worth noting these activities will be beneficial for the designer and ‘when practised on a daily basis, mindfulness can train the mind to refocus more quickly after brief periods of distraction.’ (Hart, 2017) Another everyday exercise for designers is to think about their clients; this is where the next point perspective and energy comes in. Research has shown that being mindful in the work place encourages the individual to become more empathetic of their clients, ‘understanding the perspective of others by developing how you articulate your own emotions.’ (Hart, 2017) Mindfulness allows individuals to ground themselves in the present moment, this highlights back to Kabat-Zinn’s definition and it also can give the person ‘mental space to think about what is really important about your design work.’ (Hart, 2017) Additionally, the final point made is about reducing stress and encouraging overall positivity, going back to the point that it can be incredibly difficult for the designer to be creative when under pressure or even when emotions are taking over. It is proved that mindfulness will keep emotions in check and also reduce stress at the same time and for most designers when their head is kept clear and free of mental stress, it leads them to become more creative and thus happier. ‘As a designer and creative thinker, mindfulness has allowed me to control my ADHD and enter new ways of thinking about the future, greatly improving my idea generation quality and speed.’ (Hart, 2017)

To further back up the key points of introducing mindfulness into the workplace to better a designer’s environment, another common activity that involves being creative is art therapy. It is a form of expressive therapy that will use the creative process of creating art to improve physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. The creative process of art therapy allows individuals to resolve issues, manage behaviours and feelings and ultimately reduce stress and increase self-esteem. It can achieve lots of different things for various people and is broadly used for counselling for therapists, rehabilitation and psychotherapy. Art therapists are trained in both therapy and art, meaning they are incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to using art as a basis for general assessments of a person’s state to aid an illness. They are trained to pick up nonverbal symbols and metaphors that often get expressed through the creative process, which can be too difficult to express with words, through this, the individual, can really begin to see the positive effects of using art therapy by the discoveries that are made. 

Furthermore, there are different variations of art therapy, with mindfulness art therapy being one of them, ‘mindfulness as a technique is being used by Cognitive Behavioural Therapy arts-based practitioners in conjunction with other CBT methods.’ (Hogan, 2015) To do this, the therapist will create a supportive environment where the individual can feel safe; it involves guided mediations and sensitive exploration of the art images that are created. Kindness and care encourages non-judgemental responses within the practices, thus linking back to Kabat-Zinn expressing how mindfulness will allow a person to live in the present moment non-judgementally and enable them to focus solely on themselves and their feelings. Considering this in conjunction with previous points made about design evoking various feelings and behaviours for both observers and creators, it is interesting to note that ‘art therapists have a considerable understanding of art techniques and are proficient in using materials to facilitate none-verbal communication’ (Hogan, 2015), they are used when an individual cannot express thoughts or feelings that well through verbal communication. When reflecting on this in combination with Gamper creating an exhibition to highlight the importance of every day objects and ‘what this object does in a social context, how it changes our behaviour, or how it helps our behaviour.’ (Gamper, 2014) It allows an individual to use mindfulness techniques in order to apply their social skills to become more understanding and kind towards the design world and consider the important steps that go into creating something like an exhibition.

In addition, to link the points made about environmental graphic design, signage and wayfinding were created to allow an individual to move around a built up space efficiently and smoothly, without this it would most likely lead to a lot of chaos and confusion, as people would not have a simple system to follow. This therefore automatically reduces the stress levels of an individual and allows them to navigate through a system successfully. It is worth noting that often, places where mindfulness is significantly used within a built up area, for example a work place or somewhere that offers therapy, will have an incredibly simple wayfinding system for an individual to navigate around as they will want to implicate the most stress free ways to keep that person feeling calm and safe. A Hygge environment where a person will most likely be ‘taking pleasure from the presence of gentle, soothing things’ (Russell, 2015), will highlight the importance of efficient environmental design. Noting that large companies such as Google have implemented a mindful working environment will mean they are careful and considerate when it comes to their workers environment. They provide a stress-free environment for design workers to create in, meaning their attitudes and behaviours towards co-workers; the company and themselves will most likely be positive and successful. This relates to the Mindfulness Design Company and how they discuss the key benefits of mindfulness for designers as it is proved to reduce stress within the workplace and improve staff loyalty and relations.

To conclude, there are many factors to argue that the influence of mindfulness through and within design has a highly positive effect on a person’s health and wellbeing. Through research, there have been no arguments to suggest that these mindful activities are not helpful of have any negative connotations surrounding them. The topic of mindfulness has become popular in recent years as many people now recognise it as a way to encourage a more calm and relaxing mind set. Many people look to design to evoke calming feelings and behaviours, whether this is through visiting an exhibition, taking part in performance art or using products such as books and apps. This has also led to the recognition of noting how all things that have been designed have a purpose. This may then lead to a person behaving in a much more positive way as they are able to adapt their environment to suit them, this is done through both design and how they think and feel. Furthermore, in relation to how mindfulness can benefit a designer and their work process, it is clear that there is many techniques that are recognise amongst professionals and that are applied to their work practice. Kabat-Zinn describes mindfulness as ‘to be in a wiser relationship with things that are going on in our lives’ (Kabat-Zinn, 2015), then an individual can apply all of these techniques mentioned within this essay in order to become more self-aware in their day to day life. The business and concept set up by the Mindfulness Design Company is incredibly influential and beneficial for designers working in a fast paced environment as they encourage individuals to incorporate a new way of thinking and working. In addition, the suggestion that mindfulness helps designers with creativity, focus, perspective and empathy, helping reduce stress levels and improving all round positivity, is a huge positive factor to implement more mindful techniques within the workplace as it is proven to help how individuals feel about themselves, therefore producing high quality standard work. But also a much more encouraging relationship with co-workers. The concept and topic of mindfulness is greatly covered by both designers and professors, as established within this essay. It is important to note that there is a very common understanding of what mindfulness means and how much it can benefit an individual, therefore in terms of answering the essay question, to what extent can design be used to influence a person’s mindfulness, it has an incredibly highly praised attitude towards a persons thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Whether that being through a person using design to achieve a more positive mind-set or a designer in a workplace using the many mindfulness techniques and activities, it is clear that they all contribute to influencing an individual to consider their surroundings more and encourage them to be kinder to themselves but also to the people around them. Also seen through the concept of adapting to a Hygge lifestyle, something that is now becoming more known of and practised in this country to achieve mindfulness. 

Alex. (2014). What is the meaning of Hygge. Available: http://hyggehouse.com/hygge. Last accessed 20th Dec 2018.

Calori, C and Vanden-Eynden, D(2015) Signage and Wayfinding Design: A Complete Guide to Creating Environmental Graphic Design Systems, ^2nded. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons

Gamper, M (2014) Design Is A State Of Mind, 1^sted. London: Koegnig Books

Hart, J. (2017). The key benefits of mindfulness for designers. Available: https://mindfulnessdesign.co.uk/mindfulness-for-designers/. Last accessed 10th Jan 2019.

Hogan, S (2015) Art Therapy Theories: A Critical Introduction, 1^sted. Oxon: Routlidge 

Kolb, A (2015). Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development . 2nd ed. New Jersey: Pearson Education. p20.

Mindful. (2015), Jon Kabat-Zin, Me Me Me (Online Video), 28 May 2015. Available from: https://youtube.com/watch?vULJSacYFzzQ (Accessed: 20 December 2018).

Papanek, V (1971) Design for the Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change, 2^nded. Chicago: Chicago Publishers

Russell, H. (2015). Get cosy: why we should all embrace the Danish art of 'hygge'.Available: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/mind/Danish-cosy-hygge-lifestyle-cosiness-winter-warmth-Nordic-Danes-Scandi-home-interiors/. Last accessed 10th Jan 2019.

Sircello, G (1972) Mind and Art, an essay on the varieties of expression, 1^sted. New Jersey: Princeton University Press

COP3: Research- Art Therapy

What is art therapy?

form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of making art to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. 

The creative process involved in expressing one’s self artistically can help people to resolve issues as well as develop and manage their behaviors and feelings, reduce stress, and improve self-esteem and awareness.

You don’t need to be talented or an artist to receive the benefits, and there are professionals that can work with you to dive into the underlying messages communicated through your art, which will aid in the healing process.

Art therapy can achieve different things for different people. It can be used for counselling by therapists, healing, treatment, rehabilitation, psychotherapy, and in the broad sense of the term, it can be used to massage one’s inner-self in a way that may provide the individual with a deeper understanding of him or herself.

What Does an Art Therapist Do?

Art therapists are trained in both therapy and art, and have studied and mastered both psychology and human development, having received a Master’s Degree. There are various requirements for becoming an art therapist as well as certifications which means they are masters when it comes to using art as a springboard for everything from a general assessment of another person’s state to treatment for aiding serious illness. Art therapists can work with people of all ages, sex, creed, et al. They can help an individual, a couple, a family, or groups of people and depending on the situation, there may be numerous therapists working together as a clinical team.

Art therapists are trained to pick up on nonverbal symbols and metaphors that are often expressed through art and the creative process, concepts that are usually difficult to express with words. It is through this process that the individual really begins to see the effects of art therapy and the discoveries that can be made.

Art: A Wonderful Form of Therapy

Expressive art therapy is the use of creative arts as a form of therapy and is a fantastic field that has proven to work wonders in many people’s lives. It can help someone express themselves, explore their emotions, manage addictions, and improve their self-esteem. It really helps children with developmental disabilities, however; art therapy is awesome because it can help anyone!

Have you ever noticed how much music, or doing an activity like drawing relaxes you after a long day? That is because it is very therapeutic. If you see a professional art therapist, they can help you interpret the feelings that pour into your design, and even help work through and resolve problems. Studies have also proven that colouring, even as an adult, has tremendous benefits. Unfortunately, colouring, drawing, painting, and playing music is very taboo in the adult world. Break away from that social expectation, and see how freeing it is to let your creativity flow.

Music, art, and dance are the main expressions for this variety of therapy.  Music therapy can be a mix of playing instruments, listening to music, and singing.  Dance therapy utilizes dance and movement. It makes sense that it is so effective–lots of endorphins are released into your body when you shake it! Art therapy can be a mixture of drawing, colouring, painting, sculpting and pretty much everything else you can think of that is artistic. These are all things people love to do as hobbies, so why not use it to better yourself and show yourself some love?

Besides helping someone better their emotional being, art therapy is great for many other things. It can help general illness. Art is a fabulous escape from feeling icky. Art therapy can help someone who has a cancer diagnosis. Battling cancer takes both a very physical and emotional toll, and is even a struggle accepting the diagnosis. Art and dance are powerful expressions of these emotions, and can help relieve a lot of stress, anger, and sadness. Someone in need of therapy to have some relief after a disaster would also be an excellent candidate for artistic therapy.

There are so many uses and benefits to expressive arts therapies, that can help drastically improve people’s lives for a plethora of reasons. Even if you don’t need serious help, it can be a great way to release stress after a long work week. Art therapy is a growing field that is being more widely accepted, so it is also an opportunity as a career field! Be bold, be creative, and be expressive and give art therapy a try.

http://www.arttherapyblog.com/what-is-art-therapy/#.XDzGrS2cY1I

COP3: Research- Art Therapy Theories: A Critical Introduction, Susan Hogan

- Art therapists have a considerable understanding of art techniques and are proficient in using materials to facilitate none-verbal communication. 5

- The process of making art works in itself potentially revelatory, triggering strong feelings and revealing previously unexpressed issues. 5

- The images produces can be enlightening and provoking in unpremeditated startling ways. 6

- Whilst art processes are at the core of art therapy there are different conceptualisations of the process, based on varied theories. 7

- CBT

- In Cognitive Behavioural Therapy there is a focus on distorted thought processes which give rise to emotions and behaviours. 10

- The process is to help the client identify the false and negative rules and assumptions governing his or her actions and then find ways to replace or restructure assumptions with more realistic and positive rules and expectations. 10

- Mindfulness as a technique is being used by CBT arts-based practitioners in conjunction with other CBT methods. 11

COP3: Research- Hygee

COP3: Research- Design For The Real World, Victor Papanek

Notabe quotes:

- 'All that we do, almost all the time, is design, for design is basic to all human activity' pg3

- Design is the conscious and intuitive effort to impose meaningful order' pg4

- We constantly try to understand our ever changing highly complex existence by seeking order in it pg4

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COP3: Research- Mind and Art, Guy Sircello

Notable Quotes:

- A notion held by many of the artists, critics, and philosophers of the Romantic Period is that the mind is an original source of human action and its products and perhaps even of Nature itself. -pg 17

- Mind is like nothing in Nature, even though it is a kind of “source” which is effectual in Nature, and which insists that the mind is an “inner” realm, even though it is in no way spatial, is incomprehensible. pg 29

- We under stand relatively well what it is for a person to express such things as feelings, emotions, attitudes, moods, etc. But if we say that sonatas, poems, or paintings also express those sorts of things either we are saying something patently false or we are saying something true in an uninformative, misleading, and therefore pointless way. pg 30

- For to say of works of art that they express those sorts of things seems to imply that they are very much like persons. Therefore, unless we believe that philosophers who think of art as expression believe the unbelievable, that is, that art has feelings, attitudes, and moods and can express them, we must believe that such philosophers are trying, however inadequately, to come to grips with genuine truths about art. pg30