Design and Spirituality A Philosophy of Material Cultures

Design and Spirituality examines the philosophical context of our current situation and its implications for design. It explores how modernity and our constricted notions of progress have contributed to today’s crisis of values, and argues for a re-establishment and re-affirmation of self-transcending priorities, together with an ethos of moderation and sufficiency. A wide range of topics are covered, including material culture and spiritual teachings; sustainability and the spiritual perspective; traditional and indigenous knowledge; technology and spirituality; notions of meaningful design; and how particular material things can have deeper, symbolic significance. There are also reflections on areas such as the language of design; busyness and its relationship to wisdom; design and social disparity; and traditional sacred practices. While not avoiding issues that are controversial, and sometimes hard-hitting, Design and Spirituality gets to the heart of the key issues affecting us today and presents them in a highly readable and accessible format. The author is a leading thinker in the field and he presents his arguments in a manner that invites the reader to reflect and think about where we are going, why we are going there and what really matters. Podcasts https://www.jesuit.ie/podcasts/the-spiritual-dimension-of-design/ https://newbooksnetwork.com/design-and-spirituality

Foreword Introduction The Nature of Design Material Things and Spiritual Teachings Sustainability and Secular Liberalism Busyness and Wisdom Heartless When the Devil Drives Nipping the Bloom The Serpentine Walk Language Speaks A Complacency of Strangers Insecticides and Suicides Transcending Technology Jericho Road Design and Spirituality Lucratively Loveless Unity, Love and Design Shallowness and Depth An Impression of Intentionality Failings The Inner Flame Religion and Atheism Techno-spirituality A Higher Purpose Material Things and Spiritual Goods Meaningful Design The Deeper Significance of Things At the Valley Traditional Knowledge The Dobby Stone Natural Magic Ex Voto The Well of Fajã dos Padres Sacred Smoke Under the Volcano An Expression of the Sacred The Mexelhote and the Molinillo An Object of my Affection Memento Mori Bread of Life The Conference of the Blind Something and Nothing The Faraway Bird Aesthetic Roots Wabi Sabi A Beachfront View Local Provenance, Presence and Posterity Tradition Nootka Sound Along the Highway Clear cut A Northern Town Vanity Fair What is Truth? The Spiritual Sensibility A Suitable Metaphor Higher Goods Making Special Truth, Goodness and Beauty Creating from the Heart Sine Fide The Third Exit Restart or Reform? Endnotes Bibliography Index

Stuart Walker is Chair of Design for Sustainability at Lancaster University where he co-founded the ImaginationLancaster Design Research Lab. He is also Visiting Professor of Sustainable Design at Kingston University and Emeritus Professor at the University of Calgary. His research focuses on environmental, social and spiritual aspects of sustainability; it has been supported by the SSHRC in Canada and the AHRC and the Arts Council in the UK. His experimental designs have been exhibited in Canada, Australia, Italy and the UK. His books include Sustainable by Design; Design Roots (lead ed.); Design for Life; and Design Realities.