4 minute read
The Value of Sensitivity in Design Thinking | Sarthak Shambhatnavar
Sarthak Shambhatnavar
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Visual Communication Design Student
An aspiring communication design student of Avantika University, keen on learning multiple communication design aspects like illustrations, branding, typography, character design, creative thinking and content writing. He keeps on learning and increasing his knowledge, about various concepts enhancing his worldview and skillset.
Description: This article is the thought process behind the book “Labyrinth of the mind” written and illustrated by me. It sets out to include and put more focus on sensitive topics about mental health and the process of writing and illustrating the book. Design thinking plays an important role in both the layout and designing of the book and in the contents and placement as well. This article speaks about the value a self-observation and a self-help book can provide through the major elements of design thinking and considering ethics as an asset.
Moral sensitivity, on which the book is focused if neglected even in the simplest design, can have harmful repercussions on a large group of people. The book expresses it, by actively promoting the importance of channeling our thoughts through our minds. The mind is not as complicated as the world persuades you to think it is. Thoughts make the process complicated. Speaking of sensitivity, mental health is a massive spectrum yet talked about by a few. Society's stigma often cages minds that want to be set free. It is important to let our thoughts free, to accept ourselves, explore further, and value these explorations but not to waste time on what is inevitable. We can think beyond our thoughts, but we always see a deeper picture within our values. That is what should drive us to be the best version of ourselves, and not obsess over the idea of "perfection". The idea of perfection is not to be perfect, nothing is. There can never be a perfect balance of emotions, yet we perceive a balance in how we control our emotions. People will often convince you that negative emotions should fade away in secrecy. People do not; or to be more precise, people don't know how to channel those in a healthy manner. With a healthy process, you either learn to evolve these emotions into positive ones, or they slowly disappear and your mind has space for newer emotions. This book brings out a visual element where the reader can relate to the concepts not just with words but with illustrations as well. Encountering many visual challenges to make the book more comfortable to the reader, a particular colour palette was chosen to understand the reader's mind. The actual conduct of placing the elements of the book to soothe the reader's mind while relating was focused. Self-help books are often mistaken for providing the correct answers. Is it ethical to have a single answer for so many people? This project was meant to create harmony and balance in the initial stages where the reader sets their mind to focus on correspondence and compatibility of the context presented. It helps you stop, think, breathe and continue discovering what your mind is made of; unlimited possibilities and limited emotions, making you aware that you do not have time to dwell upon what you do not have; to move forward with what you have. Accepting and moving forward, especially during these times, is vital, to clear your mind by reading.
The aim of the book is to know about one’s emotions and how an individual tackled that experience. Those delusional experiences, perceived by normal human beings, are flawed.
