Experience Design for the 7 dimensions of wellness

As we navigate through the ups and downs of pandemic-induced world, many have become exhausted by constant flux of fear and anxiety.  More than ever, we need a sanctuary for our body, mind, and most importantly, our spirit. Scientifically speaking, we are the result of the interactions of our brain and body. Robert Sapolsky, an American neuroendocrinology, explains how the three layers  of our brain namely the reptilian brain, limbic system, and frontal cortex orchestrate our action and reaction to the world.  As we have long been confined to the virtual world through online meetings, learning, and entertainment our frontal cortex work hard to make sense of how to regulate our bodies. Within this virtual or ‘surreal’ world, virtual stress, fear, and anxiety are translated into fight or flight reactions resulting in ‘real’ accelerated heartbeat and high blood pressure. During the lockdowns, we trained ourselves to dwell in the virtual world as if it was real. With this new normal mindset, when exposed to the physical world, we may not perceive our world the way we used to do.

Therefore, it is vital that designers be critical when creating objects and space, which are attributes of experiences, to help people make sense of the “real” and the “surreal” in order for normal functions of our bodies to resume leading to a more comprehensive wellness. This comprehensive wellness can be achieved through experience design that focus on the 7 dimensions of wellness namely physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, social and occupational. Design literacy forum IX would like to invite academics and professionals in architecture and design discipline to join the discourse in “Experience Design for the 7 dimensions of wellness” by sending creative works that contribute to different dimensions of wellness through experience design of object and space.  Successful works will be exhibited on our online platform and published in our online journal.

Important dates:

Call for submission

First Round:

October 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021

Peer Review

January 1-15, 2022

Second Round

April 1- 30, 2022

Peer Review

May 1-15, 2022

Online Exhibition

May 31, 2022 onwards

Send your submission form to: chutaratnch@au.edu