The Art of Simplicity: Learning Life's Lessons Through the Essence of Architectural Design
I still remember stepping into my first architecture design studio, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. My instructor, with a twinkle in his eye, told us, “If you really get your design, you should be able to explain it in one sentence.”
Coming from a business background, the whole idea of 'architecture' felt new and somewhat overwhelming. But as weeks turned into months, I began to grasp what he meant. The real test came when he said, “If your idea is strong enough, sum it up in one word!”
Trying to fit a big idea into a tiny word felt like trying to pack an elephant into a suitcase. But slowly, I realized he was pushing us to think clearer, to dig deeper. This wasn’t just about design; it was a life lesson. If we could pin down our idea to its essence, it would make our designs stronger.
In our lives, we all search for clear answers, especially when it comes to our careers and paths. But sometimes, we're not even sure what we're asking.
Back when I taught design and portfolio classes, I’d always start with three basic questions for my students:
What’s the problem you’re trying to solve?
What do you hope to achieve with your design?
How will your design make that happen?
Sounds simple, right? But so many students would stumble. Sometimes they hadn’t really looked at the problem, or they’d just go with what everyone else thought was the 'right' design. Without a clear idea, their designs felt lost, like trying to follow a map that kept changing.
It’s the same with our lives. We all dream of a great life story, but we need a clear idea or value to guide us. It could be honesty, kindness, justice - whatever feels true to us. That’s our compass.
While we keep talking about goals in career and life, we sometimes forget this underlying value or 'idea.' But here's the thing: in design, everyone might have the same goal, but it's the core idea or value that sets each design apart. Similarly, in life, it's our values that make our stories unique. So, here's to finding our core and letting it guide our masterpiece.
