SPACE.

What’s the first thing that came to mind when you read that word? 

Everyone in the world will have a different answer and I find that fascinating seeing that we have all occupied the online world for much of the last 18 months. Throw into the mix the metaverse discussion over the last few weeks and it adds another dimension. Broadly defined, the meta verse is the shared virtual space and I do wonder if the metaverse will be the same shared space for us all…

When I hear the world space the first thing that jumps into my mind is the wide open space of the Karoo in South Africa. Perhaps this is because I spent much of 2020 boxed up in a flat in the city or maybe it’s because I have been doing a lot of thinking recently about how we need to give ourselves space.

How does our environment change the way we think of and define space? We have all experienced this in some way, shape or form. If you’ve worked in a coffee shop that space will bring a different flavour to your thinking. You may be evoked or gain inspiration from a comment you hear as two individuals pass by. Or perhaps you’re given a shot of energy thanks to your double shot of espresso from your favourite barista rather than your two table spoons of instant coffee.

You get the picture, the space we occupy can directly influence our thinking and who we are as person. 

One of the things that I think we have missed over the last 24 months is serendipitous interactions. This was one of the pulls for living in big cities being a young professional. I was able to build off and embrace the energy that was created by the dynamic interactions I had. Creating serendipitous meetings in the digital realm is a little challenging. This does not mean that it can’t be done, but just that it requires a new approach to thinking about how you recreate a conversation that may have been started while you were waiting in a queue to order your morning cup of coffee. Or maybe you met a complete stranger on the train ride into the office on Wednesday.

These serendipitous interactions are pivotal to our growth and not having had them, I have been left thinking about how I need to intentionally put myself into digital online spaces where I can try to recreate them. As an example, last year I joined a design call with Stephen Gates, a well-known designer whose podcast you may have listened to, and few other designers from America. Totally outside of my comfort zone, but it was an attempt to be serendipitous and see what came from it. 

Neuroplasticity is broadly defined as the brain's ability to modify, change, and adapt both structure and function throughout life and in response to experience. Without wanting to go down a rabbit hole here, I want us to briefly think about what this may mean for the way that humans brains may develop over time. What is the response of the brain and its ability to adapt not having had serendipitous exchanges for an extended period of time? We may have well developed or strengthened other areas of our brain, but what those that have we weaken through not having these types of interactions?

Connecting in the virtual world still has some way to go. The release of Horizon Workrooms today was greeted with mixed emotions. Personally, I think that it still needs a lot of work. It reminded me of the hours I spent playing SimCity as a kid, I think that the graphics and experience in this game over 20 years ago were better than the demo I saw today.

So, I guess that we’re stuck in this 2D world for the moment. Trying to figure it all out and design out serendipitous interactions. Pushing yourself to look for serendipitous spaces will definitely feel strange as first, we have all had an awkward video call where both people on the call are not sure who should speak first and end up speaking over one another. We got better with time, so my suggestion would be to start. See if you can put yourself into a serendipitous online space in the next week.

SOMETHING THAT I DISCOVERED THIS WEEK THAT I DIDN’T KNOW LAST WEEK

The history of the hour glass. 

It was invented by a French monk called Liutprand in the 8th century AD. It’s a device that is used to measure a the passage of time. It’s symmetrical upper and lower spheres allow the same duration to be measure regardless if you stand it on its head or bottom.

The reason this fascinated me is because when I think about space, time is often involved. Being in one place can make time feel like it is flying by. 

A TED TALK YOU SHOULD WATCH

“You have to express yourself. And to express yourself, you have to know yourself. It's actually super easy. You just have to follow your love. There is no path. There's no path till you walk it, and you have to be willing to play the fool. So don't read the book that you should read, read the book you want to read. Don't listen to the music that you used to like. Take some time to listen to some new music. Take some time to talk to somebody that you don't normally talk to. I guarantee, if you do that, you will feel foolish. That's the point. Play the fool.” Ethan Hawke