A few months ago I wrote an essay about emotional architecture. It was initially posted here on Building Moxie´s blog, and then here on my own blog.
This is one of those essays that has remained resonating in my mind in an eternal connection of situations and elements. There´s no moment in life, after having written this essay that I don´t relate every emotion that I experience with the project I´m working on at the time.
But this network of connections has gone even further; I´ve started to compare or connect my emotions with the way I approach to projects.
For instance, I´ve come to realize that if I´m feeling happy, I tend to let my imagination loose, which usually makes me start the design process using a 3D modeling software. Each volume that manages to get raised above the ground plane reinforces my joy and makes me keep going.
If instead I´m feeling stressed or worried, technology becomes my enemy (or maybe I´m just not able to connect with it), so I usually go back to my origins and grab a pencil and a piece of paper and sink myself in a visceral process of straight and/or curved lines that seem to be trying, through the tracing of each of them, to release and take away all the stress and worries. It almost becomes a therapeutic procedure to relieve tensions.
Now, if the emotion invading me is sadness, I can only function through mechanical work, the one that begins when I press the start button of my laptop and which makes me travel through a series of programed or pre-thought movements that make me slowly enter my psyche, helping me find design intentions and concepts hidden in the most profound places.
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There are so many emotions and each of them affects us in distinct ways. Besides, each person is different; every design process is unique and particular but, have you thought about how emotions influence your processes? Have you analyzed the ability of emotions to bring us closer to our most honest, visceral and creative being?…
This is a revelation for all creative people who get frustrated from time to time. Recognize your emotional state and work with it, produce what you can within that state or work to alter it. Joe Hefferon
Hi, Joe!
Well yes, it´s a different way of approaching to emotions and feelings. Thinking of them as tools and not as complications.
Talk to you soon,
Ana
Ana — I wonder if in the course of training you were instructed to close out these varying phases of emotion. Today for example I do feel little blue. not necessarily the norm for me and no reason I think other than (ironically) chasing some negative thoughts about past “job” performance — silly I know. While I don’t necessarily feel like jumping into my next piece (and I wouldn’t consider myself exactly energized); I am still getting important (somewhat mindless) work done. stuff that would likely be slightly bothersome if I were actually on a high. ha! anyways — I love when you share on this stuff and you know that originally posting has definitely been one of the highlights for me as a blog owner. Cheers dear and a wonderful afternoon. ~jb
I think I just entered a long comment that was lost when I logged in. uggh. (Maybe you do get it.) Long and short of it: I wonder if in the course of your training you were ever instructed to block out these varying emotions.
I am not necessarily in the best spirits today, case in point, but I am still being productive and it is important.
You know too that that original post has always been one of the highlights for me as a blog owner. I love when you share from the heart, so thank you. And be well. ~jb
Jb!
I did read your first comment. What happened was that wordpress asked me to approve it first… don´t know why.
I really don´t remember ever being told at arch shool to shot down my emotions, but I know people usually think that emotions make us weak, therefore try to keep them out of work related issues.
I´ve came to realize that emotions help me be more in touch with my creative side, so I´ve started to embrace them and use them in my favor.
PD: don´t feel blue… or maybe feel blue but just for a while, so you can finish the boring work your doing (:
Cheers,
Ana