Hi, Klaus, Hi, Chris,
If I may shed what I hope is a nuance in this aspect of a fascinating thread, I can't see why a cognitive activity such as designing should not permit flow states.
Mathematicians and physicists experience flow states. See, for example, Jacques Hadamard's Psychology of Invention in the Mathematical Field, accounts of Andrew Wiles's work on Fermat's Last Theorem, or accounts of Albert Einstein's work or Richard Feynman's. If these most cognitive of fields demonstrate flow states and passionate engagement in thinking, problem selection, and problem solving, why should it not be so for us?
I have experienced flow states solving problems -- both design problems and research problems. In that sense, I'd argue that appropriate passion does play a role in the work of designing -- again with an emphasis on those qualities and behaviors that are appropriate to serving human beings.
Solving problems is intrinsically motivating for many people. Fun is one word for intrinsic motivation, and flow states and fun are often linked.
Ken Friedman, PhD, DSc (hc), FDRS
Professor
Dean
Swinburne Design
Swinburne University of Technology
Melbourne, Australia
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Klaus Krippendorff wrote:
i agree that design can be a passion. but it is too cognitive to become lost in its process as one could in downhill skiing, video game playing, or flying a glider, all of which involve the whole body and when mastered is almost entirely intrinsically motivating -- flow
Chris Rust wrote:
Of course. But my interest is not in flow so much as commitment.
I'm not really happy with the idea that designing or design could be a passion, I'm more interested in seeing if and how passion is an aspect of designing.
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