Stream of Consciousness

If the process that a designer follows to create a one-of-a-kind design is complex, which it is, then the process that goes on within a designer’s head while creating a one-of-a-kind design is inconceivably labyrinthine.

Likewise, if putting the indescribable workings of a designer’s mind into words would be a feat, which it would, then putting it into the form of a moving image would be a tour de force. Enter Armin Vit and his marvelous movie, “Stream of Consciousness: Listening to Your Inner Designer.”

“As all (or most) designers know, while designing we tend to have supra-hyper- streams of consciousness”

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a “stream of consciousness” is “the continuous unedited chronological flow of conscious experience through the mind.” As all (or most) designers know, while designing we tend to have supra-hyper-streams of consciousness and, as I mentioned above, to put this supra-hyper-stream of consciousness into the form of a moving picture would be quite the task. Well, Armin Vit has accomplished just that task.

Throughout his movie you’ll experience the thoughts, sounds, and visions that a designer encounters through the design process, including such tangents as “should I join green peace,” to “did I feed the cat,” to “I wonder what ever happened to my high school sweetheart?” At one point the designer even wonders what the tune is to “that Billy Joel song,” and then proceeds to hum “We Didn’t Start the Fire” as it comes to him. According to the narrator, these streams, or, perhaps, raging rivers, in a designer’s case, make up 80% of the things taking place within your head.

“Design is not about the end result. It’s about the process, the fun, and the possibilities.”

“Stream of Consciousness” concludes with this final message: design is not about the end result. It’s about the process, the fun, and the possibilities.

Better words have never been spoken. Armin’s movie reminds us to be open-minded and have fun with the design process. If your process simply includes step one, two, three, four, done, then you’re missing out on all of the amazing possibilities that lie between day one and day one hundred, when you finally finish your most worthy design and can say to yourself, “gee, that was really fun.”