Unlearning
I can’t stop thinking about the events that happened in Washington this week. And while politics are not directly discussed in this space, sometimes those kinds of events permeate my brain and influence everything. This blog post included. You aren’t going to read any specifics about what happened or my own personal view. Instead, I think it’s important to talk about transformation. And how our communities or ourselves won’t be able to transform into something greater unless we unlearn past behaviours. So we learn, and then unlearn, and then we transform. Sounds easy, right. It is not. But it is doable.
I love how the design community has embraced this type of thinking. Community spaces are becoming much more accessible, inclusive, and diverse, and it’s wonderful to see. This industry has really let go of the old ways of thinking, where once the belief of accessibility meant that ramps needed to be put into place, have now broadened their scope and focused on the needs of all differently-abled – and whether that means different types of signage or created areas for engagement and play in previously unusable spaces, or even redefining what space means.
So how does one get to the place of unlearning?
- Be open to something different. There is more than one way to do something. There is more than one right way to do something. Just throw away the idea of right. Making mistakes is how we find the answer and what may be the best solution to our problem.
- Take a left turn, turn, cross the street, or climb a tree. Take a different path. Repeating the same paths and ideas makes us stale, and we won’t create anything new.
- Question everything. Ask why. Be curious.
- Have a conversation with someone, unlike yourself. Ask them what would make their life easier—brainstorm solutions with them. Ask questions, and actively listen to their answers.
- Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Ask yourself the hard questions. If life is easy for you, put yourself in someone else’s position. Think about what life is like for them.
We get so used to uniformed spaces that it’s a bit of a shock to the system when we walk into an office that doesn’t play by those rules. We feel like that space has become chaotic, but what has really happened is that space is responding to (and respecting) the needs of the individuals who make up a team. I once walked into an office where none of the overhead lighting matched. Instead, it was chosen by the person who was sitting underneath that fixture or track head. So it was a mishmash of different colour temperatures and brightness. From a distance, it looked strange. It didn’t feel like a team was working there. But as I walked around the open-concept office, I noticed that no one was squinting, or wearing sunglasses, or complaining about the lighting giving them headaches. Or glare from their screens. It may have looked a little odd for a moment, but my eyes adjusted just fine, and it was kind of nice to see everyone in the glow of being happy in their own personal spotlight. No one says things have to be a certain way. If different works, then it’s a win.
Companies can approach this in another way. Allow the staff to think differently. You can do this in many different ways. Encourage volunteerism, organize staff retreats/field trips. Or give them a gift of appreciation, and see what comes of it. What do you think would happen if your company president, who used the big corner office with a spectacular view, gave it up to the staff to use as their lunchroom/lounge. Imagine the good it would do. That gesture might inspire different thoughts just because they are now able to look at the world from a different angle. And I would bet that the staff might be a bit happier.
There is a great book that I am reading called What Can a Body Do? How We Meet the Built World- by Sara Hendren and deals with the concept of learning and unlearning for designers and engineers. It’s definitely worth a read if you are interested in this topic. I am only a few chapters in, and it’s really gotten me to think about the challenges that others face and what we can do to make the world a more accessible place for everyone.
I have a lot of unlearning to do. How about you?