For the last year, we’ve explored the heart and soul of design. It’s been a strange journey. I don’t really know where we’re headed, but I feel called to travel there just the same. Along the way, we’ve trudged through deep valleys, walked across endless plateaus and have gotten completely lost. Then there have been those moments where we crest a steep hill and glimpse an oasis: beautiful and refreshing and yet seemingly untouchable and unreal.

It makes me wonder why it’s so difficult to touch the heart and soul of design? Is design heartless? I hope not. Is it soulless? I think not. But maybe we’ve not touched design that gives Life because we’ve not touched the spirit of design. I’m not talking about rah-rah school spirit, or about spirits floating through the air. I’m talking about a deeper level of design that goes beyond what we see or even experience. Let me explain by comparing people to design.

I assume we can agree that each person has a physical body, a mind, a heart and a soul. Our physical body is “touched” with our eyes. Our mind is understood with our intellect. Our heart is experienced with our feelings and emotions. And our soul is connected to our identity. But there is another part of us that is equally important–our spirit. And let’s say that our spirit encompasses some of our body, mind, heart and soul, yet is separate. Since I...... Keep reading