About

Design Approach

CMD’s approach is rooted in Experientialism, focusing on creating solutions that evoke awareness, emotions, and memories within subjective human experiences.

A true human-centred design should be rooted in the experiential approach, focusing on the subjective experiences of everyday life. This perspective challenges the traditional view of design as a purely scientific and evidence-based endeavor, which often detaches from real-world issues. It argues that a mechanistic view of design, which focuses solely on physical bodies and external problems, which neglect the cognitive and internal aspects of human experience. Consequently, this creates a false dichotomy between scientific rigor and understanding human cognition. If design is to be truly human-centred, it must integrate both scientific and empathetic approaches to find a light balance, addressing human needs holistically. This means recognizing that effective design requires a multidisciplinary approach, combining elements of science, creativity, and human understanding to evoke awareness, emotions, and memories in subjective experiences. By bridging the gap between scientific methods and empathetic understanding, human-centred design can effectively address the complexities of human needs and experiences.

Experientialism: How does experience shape our understanding of the world?

Experientialism posits that all our ideas and knowledge are derived from our own experiences. Experiential design is an approach that places significant weight on individual, firsthand experiences as the principal source of knowledge and values. It contends that subjective experiences are more important than abstract theories or objective realities.

What makes experientialism so significant?

1. Experientialism helps us understand how our minds work by showing how our thoughts and beliefs are shaped by our experiences.
2. Experientialism helps us understand how the meanings of design languages are constructed through our interactions with the world.
3. Experientialism can help us appreciate how people from different cultures perceive the world in unique ways.

Experiential design offers a fresh perspective on both design and our understanding of the world around us. By recognizing that all our knowledge and understanding stem from our own experiences, we can delve deeper into both design and ourselves.

*What are differences between Experientialism, experimentalism, and empiricism?

Experientialism, experimentalism, and empiricism are related philosophical approaches that emphasize the importance of experience in acquiring knowledge, but they have distinct characteristics:

Experientialism

Experientialism is a philosophical view that rejects the notion of a purely rational, detached perspective of the world. It emphasizes that:

• Human knowledge and understanding are shaped by our experiences and interactions with the world.
• There is no “God’s-eye view” or completely objective standpoint separate from human thought.
• Our conceptual systems and reasoning are grounded in our bodily and cultural experiences.

Experimentalism

Experimentalism is closely related to pragmatism and focuses on:

• The belief that truth is discovered through experiments and empirical methods.
• Emphasizing direct action, scientific control, and the evaluation of ideas based on their practical consequences.
• The importance of testing hypotheses and theories through controlled experiments.

Empiricism

Empiricism is a broader epistemological approach that holds:

• Knowledge is primarily or entirely derived from sensory experience.
• True knowledge or justification comes from empirical evidence and observation.
• Concepts and ideas originate from experience rather than innate or a priori reasoning.

While these philosophies share a focus on experience, they differ in their specific emphases:

• Experientialism highlights how our bodily and cultural experiences shape our understanding.
• Experimentalism stresses the importance of active experimentation and practical consequences.
• Empiricism broadly asserts that all knowledge ultimately comes from sensory experience.

These approaches are not mutually exclusive and often overlap in their applications to science, philosophy, and everyday reasoning.

CMD’s approach is rooted in Experientialism, focusing on creating solutions that evoke awareness, emotions, and memories within subjective human experiences.

The logo visually represents CMD’s philosophy and principles, blending the wisdom of Mayan civilization with the depth of Buddhist thought. The CMD logo design is based on the following reasons:

1. 三日月 (Crescent Moon)
   Represents the Mayan symbol of rebirth, growth, and change. The crescent shape signifies a posture of constant evolution.
2. 無限性 (Infinity)
   A circle is a shape without end, symbolizing the infinite possibilities of “emptiness” (空) as it has no beginning or end.
3. 調和とバランス (Harmony and Balance)
   The circular shape is even and balanced, reflecting the harmony and peace in Buddhist teachings.
4. 全体性 (Wholeness)
   A circle expresses wholeness and unity, emphasizing the concept of “emptiness” (空) where everything is interconnected.
5. 水月鏡花 (Suigetsu Kyoka: Moon in Water, Flower in Mirror)
   • The moon reflected on the water’s surface is not the actual moon. This is also a symbol of “emptiness” (空). It suggests that what we see is not necessarily something with substance.
   • Like a flower reflected in a mirror or a moon reflected on the water’s surface, it is something visible but intangible.
   • Things that cannot be expressed in words but can only be felt in the heart.
   • The world of pixels is a conceptual world, not a real one. It expresses that the moon reflected on the water surface does not have a real substance.