Actively notice and appreciate the well-designed aspects of the built world, as recognizing the care and thought put into everyday things can foster gratitude and satisfaction.
Cultivate curiosity by exploring the hidden stories and complexities behind seemingly boring or everyday objects and phenomena, as this ‘delta’ can be a profound source of fascination.
Practice mindfulness by taking a walk and reading every piece of text you encounter, such as plaques, street signs, and utility markings, to uncover hidden stories and values.
Learn the color codes for utility markings on streets (e.g., red for electricity, orange for telecom) to gain ‘x-ray vision’ and understand the hidden infrastructure beneath the surface.
Engage with the ‘information layer’ that sits on the built world to find stories everywhere, which makes life more fun and connects you to history and people.
Prioritize walking as a mode of transport to better engage with and observe your immediate environment, as it offers a richer experience than traveling by car.
Shift your focus from grand architecture to the fascinating details at street level, as mundane elements often hold rich stories and insights into urban design.
Understand that the built world is a result of human choices, not inevitabilities, empowering you to recognize that current designs can be changed and influenced by collective decisions.
Recognize that cities are constantly evolving organisms, understanding that you have agency to influence and modify them, rather than viewing them as static or predetermined.
Actively engage with your environment and its details to foster human connection and personal growth, as this process can bring you out of your shell and deepen your understanding.
Initiate conversations with locals by asking about observable objects or features in the environment, as this provides a neutral and easy starting point for human connection.
Observe how elements of the built world, such as anti-homeless spikes or specific bench designs, are intentionally used to coerce or restrict certain behaviors, often targeting vulnerable groups.
Consider small, ‘guerrilla interventions’ to improve neglected or hostile public spaces, such as adding a trash can or a symbolic object, to foster mindfulness and positive change.
Practice a balanced approach to observation, sometimes removing your ego to see the broader context, and at other times centering your individual experience and reactions as valuable.
Aspire to cultivate awareness and mindfulness in daily life, but also practice self-compassion and forgive yourself when you inevitably fall short of this ideal.
If you struggle with poorly designed objects or systems, forgive yourself and attribute the difficulty to the designer’s fault, not your own intelligence or capability.
When encountering infrastructure construction, practice patience and ‘chill the hell out,’ recognizing that the things you appreciate must be built or maintained, which requires temporary disruption.
When creating a project, define a focus that is narrow enough to provide meaning and allow people to grasp it, yet broad enough to sustain long-term interest and diverse content.
When creating, allow for ‘messy noise’ and discordant elements, as a rigid theme only goes so far; sometimes, telling a story well is enough, even if it doesn’t perfectly fit, and unexpected connections can emerge.
Be open to and listen to the ideas of your producers or colleagues, as their insights might lead to unexpectedly successful outcomes.