Contemplative Inquiry: Mindfulness in the Design Studio

1. Rhonda Schaller
Contemplative Inquiry: Mindfulness in the Design Studio
Contemplation
- As long term change, exercises designed so you can contemplate, reflect and
contextualize your experience.
Walking Meditation
- As a reflective practice, understand place and space as part of design problem solving.
Improvisation as design research
- Using props you can act out a series of steps in performance of the design problem.
Mindfulness as Sense making
- Joining technical skill with deep self-reflection and a sustained connection to and
compassion for others.
Contemplative art making
- Contemplative applied making, as a way of seeing, way of appreciating and way of
being. Foster the development of deep seeing and deep listening as a way to develop
alertness in attitude and observe reality. Asking questions through new forms of
expressing the inner as a window to a new way of knowing reality.
Design application exercises
Remaining in the moment, observing process as it occurs
Mindfulness such as breathing and body awareness
Guided imagery/visualization
Contemplating ambiguity
Text/image
concept(talk), draw with one hand (paper/pencil), draw with two hands (digital)
Stepping away
Mind map their own process as a designer
Draw a problem and its solution
Design a problem with the design instead of a solution
Paperclip exercise and notice reactions
Looking for red exercise and notice reactions
Externalize struggle rather than internatize
Draw empathy
Journaling on connections and reflecting on process through systematic linking of projects in all
classes
Immersive experiences of silence
Contemplative gaze
Slow vision, open the heart and mind as a alternative way of seeing and being in the world. It
sees what is and envisions what could be. Encouraging a sense of wonder, insight and
empathy.
Rhonda Schaller
rhonda.schaller@gmail.com

2. Rhonda Schaller
Contemplative Inquiry: Mindfulness in the Design Studio
From the Tree of Contemplative Practices:
Stillness:
Insight Meditation
Sitting meditation
Quieting and clearing the mind
Centering prayer
Centering
Silence
Generative:
Prayer
Tonglen
Lectio divina
Petitionary prayer
Visualization
Beholding
Loving-kindness meditation
Creative process:
Contemplative arts
Brushwork
Sand mandala
Improvisation
Journling
Contemplative music
Singing
Chanting
Activist:
Pilgrimage to areas where social justice issues are highlighted
Work
Volunteering
Vigils and marches
Bearing witness
Relational:
Council circle
Dialog
Deep listening
Storytelling
Journaling
Rhonda Schaller
rhonda.schaller@gmail.com

3. Rhonda Schaller
Contemplative Inquiry: Mindfulness in the Design Studio
Movement:
Walking meditation
Labyrinth walking
Yoga
Dance
Aikido
Qigongo
Tai Chi chuan
Ritual/cyclical
Sabbath / Shabbat
Vision quest
Sweatlodge
Building an altar or sacred space
Establishing a sacred personal space
Retreats
Ceremonies and rituals based in spiritual or cultural traditions
Art practices to explore:
Zen calligraphy
Tibetan sand painting
Insightful beholding - visit one painting every week at the same time of day - what do you see?
Attend to your own emotional and intellectual response to the painting. Attentiveness into care
Insightful becoming- creation and communion
Photography and writing - visual journals
Drawing and meditative movement
Rhonda Schaller
rhonda.schaller@gmail.com