An approach to letting go: Mindfulness towards designing futures

In looking towards future contexts of design where the processes and consequences of making are becoming increasingly scrutinised, I explore how we, as designers, can develop mindfulness towards what we 'make' together with others. I draw upon various key scholars in design, feminist STS and cognitive science that take a pragmatic orientation to a deeper, ethical investigation of being and change. In doing so, I consider mindfulness as an approach and practice to designing that enables awareness of others, sensitivity towards contexts and reflection of one's actions. This approach to mindfulness is inflected with Zen Buddhism, drawing upon my cultural background. I question how we conceive, enact and embody designing with other people, seeing design as a process of transformation of ourselves when making socio-material relations and the making of futures.