Gratitude (Blending the disciplines)

While I was writing my Article review I found that I had more than a few interests in design research. These are Design Thinking, Social Innovation and Citizenship and Design Management. I have a deep admiration for these fields of interest in how they can unlock, reframe and change society in a way that is more inclusive and sustainable. In South Africa we have a long history of servitude to monarchies of bygone eras who have used the South of Africa as an experimental railway for plotting the course of their destruction and in the process left societal structures that up until this day do not fully integrate, acknowledge and celebrate the the indigenous and enslaved peoples of this land or their contributions. Today the situation it seems is better as we do not have outright slavery and we are all free to vote, get an education and make an honest living of our choice. However there are still many problems and challenges in our backyard. Inequality and inequity, the needs of the people are many and variegated and in order to solve these intractable problems we need solutions that address the whole spectrum of challenges facing each community.

It is with this in mind that I find myself interested in wanting to blend 3 fields of design research into one. I am openly unfamiliar with all three and this year is the first time I make these discoveries. I find that all 3 disciplines can contain a multitude of skill sets that can be interchanged and utilised to be an effective swiss army knife in dealing with various levels of societal issues. These issues consist of environment, economic, business, human rights, education, sustainability, business, management, technology, systems, planning and any more. I look forward to finding out the obvious and hidden treasures these discoveries may bring. I have also discovered that I have a love of learning and education and design. I feel blessed that I have an opportunity to think and ponder on my position in the world, and how I can access and apply the knowledge I gain through academic pursuits, into embodiments that can direct positive change and benefit all involved. Yes I understand there is lots to do, to learn and to read, and I look forward with earnest eyes and a beating heart to being engulfed in the world of design research and application. A word that sums this all up for me is GRATITUDE.

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