PARADIGM SHIFT
Due to the emergence of new science, a paradigms have shifted. The classical science that made sophisticated mechanical movement possible drove to the evolution of the industrial revolution and fulfilling basic human needs. In the early 20th century, the transition to Einstein’s relativistic worldview from Newtonian’s classical, deterministic worldview from radically, permanently changed viewing of our view of fundamental reality. This scientific revolution raised the awareness that our reality can be dramatically different from what we have presumed. It also unearthed the philosophical explanation of our fundamental reality and existence that lay buried under the glorious age of the industrial revolution. It liberated cosmology, which had been banned for 1500 years by the misconception of absolute authority and was overshadowed by the industrial revolution’s primacy for over 100 years. Lastly, it gave the opportunity to ingenious dreamers to believe that what they think might be true, and also proved that the daring speculations by a few people can permanently change our worldview forever.
I can also feel a slight shift in the current field of design. It might not as radical and shocking as scientific revolution. During the 20th century, the role of the designer was often focused on providing better solutions for our needs and prototyping for the near future technology. The novel role of the designer for the 21st century is rather a combination of our pre-existing role, and provoking new ways of thinking across many fields of inquiry.
I thought that the new way of understanding our fundamental reality can be a perfect candidate to pursue the new role of a designer. Although the theory came out 100 years ago, it is still radical enough to wash out some old dull misconceptions and replace it with new perceptions and questionings. The theory itself is generating copious subjects for contemplation, it is based on one of the most in-depth levels of scientific reasoning. The most important reason is, it is alive, it is still evolving and open-ended. So, people can fill the lingering question with their own version of fact in extending their imaginations. As I mentioned in earlier statement, one of the goals was the presentation of the structure of the story, not the detailed plot. As I reference quantum physics and contemporary cosmology, and visualize some of those whimsical ideas as abstract structure, I facilitate how imagination can inhabit that structure.
There are many ways to pursue and accomplish a new role as a media designer, yet during my thesis year, I myself was particularly focused on my role as a medium who interconnects divergent realms of intellectual inquiry that are built upon the essence of human curiosity. Our understanding of nature and culture is so intricate and multi-dimensional that one can never scan through the whole in his/her lifetime. Thus, many of us are missing the joy of pondering over some intriguing aspects of our culture’s greatest intellectual accomplishments. The designer is situated perfectly to make that accomplishments visible and accessible.