In this essay about open mindedness I highlighted the problems related to it within our society and its effect on design in the past, present and potential future. Having collated all my research from various sources I have found many solutions that have improved a service or a product greatly. I picked this topic because I feel that in our society we have very set views related to gender, race, age and class and I feel that if these were explored more and had more positive connotations we would benefit as a society.
“A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open.” As Frank Zappa said it is important that you are open to different view, otherwise you are limiting your brain and ideas.
Open mindedness is defined as having a mind that is receptive to new ideas and arguments . As designers we are responsible for designing not only products, but also services that are accessible to a wide range of users and that will have a positive impact on their quality of life. To enable us to do this in the best way possible we have to be open to solutions that may be out of the ordinary. A great example of this is from Great Ormond Street Hospital. Their cardiac department carried out research into the human factors that may cause something to go wrong in surgery, especially small errors that are easy to overlook. They identified that the hand-over period in an operation posed the most risk. Inspired by the “lollypop man” in Formula 1 who uses a paddle to direct drivers in the pit stop who has total control over the situation, they made the anaesthesiologist of the operation team the lollypop man (or woman).
The changing needs of the population have also forced designers to become more open minded and responsive. For examp...
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...ducts and who can use them, rather than the view of the product itself. It is difficult to predict what products will be available in the future. However it is clear that in order to keep up with changes in consumers’ expectations designers need to be open minded and capable of thinking outside the box. What we also learn from exploring open mindedness is that it is important to learn from our peers as different “people approach problems differently”. It is important to note that what you may consider as open mindedness any just be another way of looking at a certain issue but being able to look at something in many different ways can give you more insight onto the subject.
Works Cited
Clarkson, J., Coleman, R., Keates, S., Lebbon, C (2003) Inclusive design, Design for the whole population.
Woodward, K (2004) Questioning identity: gender, class, ethnicity.
Lawson, Bryan. How Designers Think: The Design Process Demystified. 4th ed. Oxford: Architectural Press, 2006.
Openness - People who like to learn new things and appreciate new encounters typically score high in openness. Openness incorporates
...n to both parties this misunderstanding. With a diverse mindset it allows you to look at the world with multiple views rather than just looking at it with a one specific type of view
...ss to experience have greater access to a variety of feelings, thoughts, perspectives, and ideas," (George & Zhou, 2001). When considering the definition of communication with the traits of individuals scoring high in openness, this would imply that open individuals should be better at expressing themselves than others, thus, they are better at communicating in certain ways than others. Additionally, when considering that communication is more than just words, the highly artistic and creative traits of open individuals would indicate these individuals may be more adept at communicating visually than those with less open characteristics. However, when looking into communication, openness seemed to have less influence on certain types of communication than other traits. For example, openness had little impact on social media usage than other traits (Source, DATE).
Lawson, Bryan. How Designers Think: The Design Process Demystified. NY: Architectural Press, 1980, 2007. Massachusetts: NECSI Knowledge Press, 2004.
Open-mindedness is the ability to be critically receptive to other people’s point of views and thoughts. You must be able to open your mind to see past what conclusion you have already formed and be willing to think of other possibilities being possible. Open-mindedness is very important when approaching problems because if you don’t feel that what anyone or anything else is possible then you are constricting so many possibilities and facts in life therefor not allowing yourself to learn and grow. An example of someone who failed in having the attribute of open-mindedness I use my husband. When moving to Texas for his Military relocation, I suggested we purchase a house but he said no because he did not want to own a home in Texas. Without him being open-minded he missed that facts about the growing market and the expansion of the city we live in. Due to him not being open-minded we lost out on a financial gain.
Design has established itself as core elements in societies helping countless communities build infrastructure, invent new ways to better living conditions and create design desirable for consumption hence bettering the economy. Though this is a positive, most designers of the 21st century use their skills and their designs alike for those who can afford it; designing for what’s in fact the minority, 10% of the world’s population. The reason why developmental aid and design for development is essential to improving standards of living for those who live in developing countries, but to also bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. Ilse Oosterlaken (2009, p.100) equates most designs for development that use a `participatory' process as having a limited, user-centred approach; and suggests instead a more universal design approach, which she calls ‘capability sensitive design’. This essay will illustrate designs that have contributed to developmental design through capability sensitive design approach, considering sustainable design that are not only better the environment, community health and social welfare but the country’s economic standing. Through evaluating each example’s potential for real, sufficient, diverse and lasting value for the targeted users we can determine each design’s efficiency.
In conclusion, The human mind can only be open if there is definitely something to discover and learn about, and we are constantly pursuing those knowledge whether one is agnostic or not.
Open mindedness is one of the best qualities to have when working with a group. When people with different backgrounds come together it allows for a pleura of new ideas to form. It is important to take all of these ideas into consideration, even if the ideas seem foreign or new. Diversity in ideas are essential for coming up with the best ideas!Being open minded includes being culturally sensitive, empathetic, and having a willingness to step outside your comfort zone.
Hegeman, J. (2008). The Thinking Behind Design. Master Thesis submitted to the school of design, Carngie Mellon University. Retrieved from: http://jamin.org/portfolio/thesis-paper/thinking-behind-design.pdf.
Openness to experience is a measure of depth, breadth and variability in a person's imagination
Sam, N., & Frederick, R. (2006) “Critical thinking in organizations”, Team Performance Management, Vol. 12 Iss: 7/8, pp.272 – 277.
Critical thinking is associated with various methods and the definition will vary. A business student will look at critical thinking differently from a psychology student. The definition has changed quite a bit over the years; it can be simple and direct, as looking at a situation and asking specific questions and coming up with a conclusion. Educator Diane Halpern’s definition, “Critical thinking is the use of those cognitive skills or strategies that increase the probability of a positive outcome.” Critical thinking is used to describe thinking that is purposeful, reasoned, and is goal directed - the kind of thinking involved in problem solving, formulating inferences, calculating likelihoods, and making decisions. Critical thinking also involves evaluating the thinking process - the reasoning and factors considered before making a decision. Critical thinking is sometimes called directed thinking because it focuses on a desired outcome (Petress, 2004, p. 463).
I have always had the ability to open my mind to new ideas and experience different things. Then, I apply that to make personal decisions and create a desire to learn new things, improve skills and find challenges. Throughout the day, I think about a wide range of things. Thinking expands my knowledge, skills and aids in discovering how I can share my thoughts to others. Anything to do with mental growth is great to me. Things like science and math amaze and intrigue me, which is why I think I am so good at both of these subjects. Overall, I am a curious person, making myself believe that I achieve intellectual
Design has major impact with concerns to environmental qualities. This field is a direct study of the relationship between behaviouristic actions of its inhabitants. Designers constantly interact with people and communicate to solve the needs of their clients regardless of large or small scale projects. Analysis is key in combining creativity with managerial design solutions. These outside-of-the-box designers have the ability to create beautiful, safe and functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces using common factors, designing for communities as well as,