Embodied Design: how space imprints on the mind
How do spaces we interact in resonate with how we feel, how we think?
The theories of embodied cognition in the cognitive sciences argue for an expansion of the notion of “mind” which at the very least includes the body, and more often includes the spaces we interact in. It is a powerful idea to consider that the way we experience the world can be altered by the spaces we inhabit. That there is a resonance between the design of the space and our thoughts, feelings and dreams. Can we consider designing a space which makes us more empathetic? Can virtual spaces mediate a transition to a “post-body” realm? This seminar is a space to ask these questions about how spaces come to design us, and then in turn how we can use design to design minds. We will examine topics such as the science and philosophy of embodied cognition, such as the extended mind hypothesis and how it has come to influence the field of human-computer interactions. We will consider how embodiment is implemented in art and design by conducting and experiencing (i.e. go visit a James Turrell exhibition COVID permitting) artistic experiments which play with our percepts. We will also consider the field of architecture and its role in designing our emotions.
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