Several years ago, I was introduced to the work of Canadian designer, Bruce Mau, through his exhibit, Massive Change, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. At the time I was studying sustainability and Mau’s visionary ideas intrigued me.
He was interested in how design could affect positive change in the world.
It’s not about the world of design, but the design of the world. ~ Bruce Mau
When one of my favourite sites, Improvised Life, recently published Mau’s Incomplete Manifesto for Growth, my ears perked up.
His principles are mainly for the creative team at his company. However, several can be applied to life situations – nurturing relationships, problem-solving, handling obstacles, or any creative endeavour, even photography.
Below, I’ve taken a few of them and created a mini-manifestor for living a contemplative life and photography.
Allow events to change you. Forget about good. Process is more important than outcome. Love your experiments. Capture accidents. Slow down. Go deep. Listen carefully and ask stupid questions. Postpone criticism. Study. Drift. Harvest ideas. Begin anywhere. Everyone is a leader. Laugh. Remember.
What a lovely list you’ve given for living a contemplative life. My favourites are: Begin anywhere, postpone criticism and process is more important than outcome. Wonderful!
I love that simple photograph of a beautifully sunlit tree against a brick wall and the gorgeous green grass!
I love those three too, Sandra.
Hear, hear! I remember reading this somewhere but forgot to capture it. Brilliant. Thanks Kim. And your tree is brilliantly brilliant too.
Thanks, Sherry!
I’m reading Bruce’s thoughts and allowing them to sink in. It’s a good way to begin a new week, with words of wisdom. “Forget about good… love your experiments… capture accidents.” Sometimes I share things that didn’t quite work out and then I wonder what on earth I’m doing, letting the world see me as someone who doesn’t quite measure up. However, I’ve also found lately that my mistakes are guiding my progress and through them I can improve.
Yes, Indigo, those things that don’t quite work out are all learning experiences, aren’t they?