Psychedelics Design Philosophy
Rooted in the ethos of exploration, connection, and transformation, a philosophy that seeks to integrate the principles of psychedelics—into design.
Philosophy encompasses a wide-ranging exploration of fundamental inquiries into existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Through various sub-disciplines like metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, logic, and aesthetics, philosophers engage in critical thinking, analysis, and argumentation to delve into complex concepts and uncover profound truths about the nature of reality, human existence, and the world—much like artists exploring their craft.
Exploring the realm of psychedelics, inspired me to kinda make up a design philosophy influenced by psychedelics.
Mush love, Alexandra 🍄
Today:
Psychedelics Design Principles
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Psychedelics Design Principles
Design philosophy refers specifically to the principles, beliefs, and ideologies that guide the practice and approach of design. It encompasses the foundational frameworks and guiding principles that influence how designers conceptualize, create, and evaluate their work. Design philosophy shapes decisions regarding aesthetics, functionality, usability, sustainability, and ethical considerations.
Drawing from diverse philosophical traditions such as pragmatism, phenomenology, existentialism, and postmodernism, it informs both the practice and theory of design.
While numerous design philosophies exist, each offering its unique perspective and emphasis, they collectively contribute to shaping the landscape of design practice and theory. Well-known examples include the Bauhaus movement, Minimalism, Postmodernism, Human-Centered Design, Functionalism, Universal Design, and Emotional Design. So let’s make up a new one: Psychedelics Design, rooted in the ethos of exploration, connection, and transformation, a philosophy that seeks to integrate the principles of psychedelics—such as expanded consciousness, heightened perception, and interconnectedness—into the design process.
“"As we explore the intersection of design philosophy and psychedelics, we embark on a journey of boundless creativity and profound insight.” - ChatGPT
The First Attempt at the 4 Principles of Psychedelic Design
At its core, the design philosophy of Psychedelics Design builds on the following principles:
Consciousness Expansion:
Embracing a mindset of openness and exploration, designers strive to expand their consciousness and challenge conventional thinking patterns. Psychedelics are viewed as tools for unlocking new perspectives and fostering creativity.
Intuitive Connection:
Designers aim to cultivate a deeper connection with their intuition and subconscious mind, tapping into the inspiration that lies within. Psychedelics are seen as catalysts for accessing subconscious insights and fostering a more intuitive design process.
Interconnectedness:
Recognizing the interconnectedness of all things, designers seek to create designs that honour and reflect the unity of the natural world. Psychedelics inspire a sense of interconnectedness and empathy, guiding designers to create solutions that prioritize harmony and sustainability.
Transformation and Growth:
Designers embrace the transformative potential of psychedelic experiences, viewing them as opportunities for personal and creative growth. Psychedelics are seen as agents of change, catalyzing innovation and evolution.
By integrating these principles into the design process, designers could be inspired to create solutions that not only look good but also foster deeper connections and positive change in the world. Overall, the design philosophy of psychedelics design advocates for a mindful and intentional approach to creativity, rooted in the principles of expanded consciousness, intuitive connection, interconnectedness, and transformation.
ENGAGE
The First Online Conference on the Intersection of Psychedelics & Design
April 11, 2024
Psychedelics Design brings together pioneers in psychedelic research, business, design and creativity for a small series of events this year. As psychedelics gain mainstream momentum, these events provide a unique opportunity to learn first-hand from the visionaries shaping the psychedelic renaissance. Let’s start this conversation.
Don’t forget your exclusive Discount for Substack Subscribers: Unlock 50% off April's conference ticket with code "Substack50".
IN THE NEWS
A Brief History of Silicon Valley’s Fascination with Drugs
Feb 14, 2024
Sure, Elon Musk’s into ketamine and Peter Thiel has his doping Olympics, but drugs and tech are nothing new. Vox spoke to John Markoff, a longtime tech journalist and author of What the Dormouse Said: How the Sixties Counterculture Shaped the Personal Computer Industry, on how research on psychedelics in the nascent Silicon Valley overlapped with its interest in measuring creativity and exploring ideas around transhumanism.
Downtown Wellness Center Bridges Gap Between Psychedelics and Meditation
Feb 14, 2024
Reality Center, a Santa Monica-based startup, offers a unique solution to the limitations of traditional psychedelics and deep meditation practices with their concept of "digital psychedelics." Clients are guided through sessions by a 'Reality Manager,' who serves as both therapist and DJ, synchronizing sound and visuals to induce a near-meditative state.
OLIVER's Psychedelic ‘Nature Trip’ Encourages UK Youth to Fall in Love with Nature
Feb 14, 2024
The campaign inspired by tripping launched in response to a creative brief set by the first-of-its-kind 'Agency for Nature', developed by climate and creativity non-profits Glimpse and Purpose Disruptors. The Agency for Nature will be a long-standing initiative to build a public mandate for nature connection and protection.
FROM OUR PARTNER
Psilocybin SF Founder Launches Psychedelic Ecosystem List
February, 2024
Whether you're already navigating the psychedelic ecosystem or just starting, Milica Radovic-Mandic created a list with Bizdeliqs of companies in psychedelics. It is a good starting point for everyone.
Studiodelic is launching The Psychedelic Professionals Networking Club
March, 2024
Studiodelic is launching The Psychedelic Professionals Networking Club (Online) on March 28th, bringing together like-minded individuals who have committed their work and businesses to psychedelic medicine. Register here
Tricycle Day is Giving Away 2 Tickets for Psychedelics Design April
March, 2024
Today marks the final opportunity for you to tag a friend on Tricycle’s Instagram post to enter the game and stand a chance to win.
Click on the image below and tag away 👇
I love love love your initial take on Psychedelics_Design_Principles! Completely aligned in theory. And, while I feel that there’s plenty of room for the design process to evolve and benefit from an expanded-state of knowing and doing, I’m even more curious how we as designers, can begin using these principles to elevate how we co-create with our ‘clients/stakeholders’ in such a manner that the collaboration itself brings to life the ‘interconnectedness’ of all things. IMHO, and after 30yrs of consulting experience, I’ve seen far too many teams that either isolate themselves as the keepers of the process and/or live within a corporate structure that is a Grand Canyon away from where strategy gets shaped. To this point, I’d like to see ‘design’ become even more a part of (not apart from) the organizations that employ the practice. (Ie. More than a ‘department’ or a ‘process)
Your “Expanded Consciousness” principle captures what I’m getting at quite nicely, as it is from an expanded-state that designers can gain new perspectives on their role (not only in creating highly desirable, ‘harmonious and sustainable’ solutions) but also on their role within the the ecosystem of growth overall. To this end, what excites me most about Psychedelics Design, is the potential to blow open the aperture of our current ways of knowing and doing “design”, and to reimagine a new way forward; one inspired by expansiveness, conscious connectedness, collaboration, regeneration and reciprocity.
As R. Buckminster Fuller noted decades back -
“In order to change an existing paradigm you do not struggle to try and change the problematic model. You create a new model and make the old one obsolete.”