#35: Embracing Everyday Battles: Design as Philosophy with Sheng-Hung Lee

Send a love messageA conversation about Life, Longevity, and Human Connection between Sheng-Hung Lee, a designer, engineer, and educator from MIT’s Age Lab with experience at IDEO, and Andrea Hiott, a philosopher working in Heidelberg and the Netherlands. Together they discusses Lee's unique approach to design. He emphasizes design as a human skill rather than a hard or soft skill, focusing on the role of creativity and human connection in problem-solving. Reflecting on his career, including the redesign of the Shanghai Library and projects on longevity, Lee highlights the importance of holistic, life-centered design, community, and fulfillment over achievement. He shares stories about applying design thinking to everyday challenges, such as navigating the complexities of life and orienting towards personal goals in a world driven by efficiency. Lee also touches on designing for longevity, emphasizing holistic approaches and community engagement, while integrating personal anecdotes about cultural challenges and resilience. Join the conversation to explore the profound impact of thoughtful design on life itself, fostering deeper connections and a true sense of love and philosophy in all aspects of living: https://lovephilosophy.substack.com/#designlife #humancentereddesign #ideo #fulfillment #loveandphilosophy #longevity The inspirational cards discussed here are at: https://www.shenghunglee.com/reflection00:00 Introduction to Human-Centered Design01:12 Meet Sheng-Hung Lee: Designer, Engineer, Educator01:54 The Philosophy of Design02:50 Designing for Fulfillment and Systematic Impact06:29 The Role of Patterns in Design13:11 Human-Centered vs. Life-Centered Design15:25 The Business of Design and Co-Creation23:50 Personal Journey and Education31:32 Balancing Achievement and Fulfillment37:14 Physical Coding with Post-it Notes37:28 Boundary Objects and Tangible Artifacts38:18 Embracing Ambiguity in Design39:22 Navigating Life's Challenges41:44 Design Mindset in Everyday Problems43:54 The Importance of Human Connection52:20 Collaborative Design in the Shanghai Library Project57:12 Design for Longevity and Holistic Well-being01:04:07 The Role of Love and Community in Design01:10:40 Final Thoughts and Reflectionshttps://www.shenghunglee.comhttps://www.shenghunglee.com/designforlongevityJoin the Substack here: https://lovephilosophy.substack.com/Giving page: https://loveandphilosophy.com/giving-pageFull intro and notes here.Care is not the opposite of love. It is the very urge of life. 'Caring for what?' is the primary question. That we have a choice about what we care for and how is what makes us human, but it's quite the challenge and responsibility. Let's help one another handle it.Support the showBuy Holding Paradox: The Navigational Approach to Mind and Consciousness by Andrea HiottSign up for Making Ways newsletter and projects.Please rate and review with love. YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Substack.