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| Matt Gillespie is an Industrial Design student at the University of Cincinnati taking the Spring 2011 PDC. |
Week One: Watching The World With New Eyes
Coming from a design background, I have created many artifacts in the course of my study but none as endlessly fascinating as nature. I have been looking forward to this course for some time, hoping to gain a better understand of how nature creates functional systems and relationships.
We first met for community dinner the on the Friday evening before our first class. The mood was warm and inviting, everyone excited for what was to come. I was struck by the diversity of students with the same intrest in personal growth and sustainable living as I. From an ex-military mother looking to help with her son's green house, to a travled college student and young professional, we all shared a common thread, a sense of oneness and responsibility to our planet and fellow man.
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| Mindfully Observing Nature's Patterns |
The first weekend's courses explored the foundational ethics and principals of permaculture, patterns, basic zoning and community building. My favorite exercise was the natural observation. Students meditated for a short time before exploring the woods in a mindful manner looking for patterns and relationships in the natural order. The feeling of awareness one can develop from the recognition of nature's connectedness is empowering and satisfying. After learning about the unifying patterns of life, his exercise changed my world view.
Be it my lungs, curry runoff, or the grain of broken ice, these patterns are everywhere nature has touched. Oddly though, I found a curious lack of strait lines in nature. I only noticed strait lines in the packaging dumped on the side of the road and the lines that guide our cars.
On the following Monday I begun to take inspiration from natural forms and language to guide my design work at school. I found myself explaining to other students how the concepts of maximizing the edge and retaining water runoff could be applied to urban planning and creating livable cities. They were fascinated and found new inspiration for their projects.
One week in and this course has already made a considerable impact on my life. I can't wait for next weekend's class (and potluck)!
