Beyond Aesthetics Identity, Religion and Design

Abstract

Product design is considered in terms of utility, aesthetics and ‘higher’ or spiritual meanings. Drawing from other creative sources, such as music, literature and art, the argument is made that enduring and profound meaning is found when worldly or mundane considerations are infused with ‘higher’, religious or spiritual understandings. This can in certain cases be explicit, in other cases it is implicit. In religion there is a long history of spiritual meanings informing the creation of artefacts. However, most contemporary products lack such considerations and because of this, it is argued, our material culture is often bereft of higher meaning, unfulfilling and consequently highly transient. The question is raised as to whether or not spiritual meaning can or should be part of contemporary product design, and if so, how this might be achieved. This paper explores issues of identity and our responses to environmental and social concerns in seeking answers to these questions.

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Notes on contributors

Stuart Walker

BIOGRAPHY

Stuart Walker is Professor of Industrial Design and Associate Dean Academic in the Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He holds a PhD in engineering from the University of Leeds, an MDes in Industrial Design Engineering from the Royal College of Art, London, and the Diploma of Imperial College, London. He has published and exhibited widely on sustainable product design, is a co-editor of The Design Journal, a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Sustainable Product Design), and Visiting Professor in Sustainable Design at Kingston University, UK.