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Can Design Change

The World, For Good?


Word Count: 10418

Christopher Ambridge

BA (Hons) Furniture and Product Design

Nottingham Trent University

March 2011
Abstract

As old paradigms are crumbling, we could in fact be on the cusp of a


global revolution. For the first time in history nearly all of humanity is politically
conscious. A surge in global activism has seen a rise in the public awareness of
forbidden knowledge. This coupled with the global financial crisis and depleting
global resources has caused many people to question the governing authorities.
It is becoming increasingly apparent what damage the onslaught of capitalism
has caused to the environment and western societies. New developments in
quantum physics have essentially disproved the western view of reality and have
lead way to an explosion of amazing discoveries. It is imperative that the design
industry enforces this new quantum paradigm. The design discipline as a whole
must emerge from the chaos and be the first to take steps in catalysing,
nurturing and facilitating the huge changes that are bound to occur at this special
time in human history. But why the design industry? The design discipline is now
an integral part of every aspect of all materialised and virtual worlds. Design
indisputably affects every aspect of existence and therefore defines the collective
perception of reality. This dissertation will be exploring the concept of design
activism, specifically looking at its ability to catalyse change and shape reality in
a way that will benefit the whole planet.

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Table of Contents

Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………i
List of Illustrations…………………………………………………………………………………………………..iii
List of Appendices.…………………………………………………………………………………………………..iv
Chapter
I. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………….1
II. Argument and Discussion………………………………………………………………….3
III. Presentation of Research…………………………………………………………………18
IV. Further Discussion…………………………………………………………………………..21
V. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………….26
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….27
Appendix
I. Informational Pamphlet and Accompanied Survey……………………….A1
II. Results…………………………………………………………………………………………….A7

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List of Illustrations
Figure
1. Pie chart displaying a visual representation of the results collected

from question 2 of the survey.


2. Pie chart displaying a visual representation of the results collected

from question 7 of the survey.


3. Pie chart displaying a visual representation of the results collected

from question 9 of the survey.


4. Pie chart displaying a visual representation of the results collected

from question 10 of the survey.

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List of Appendices
Appendix
1. Informational Pamphlet and Accompanied Survey
This appendix contains an example of the brief informational
pamphlet given to participants during the implementation of
primary research, this also includes the survey of questions that
accompanied the pamphlet. This appendix is referred to in the
‘Presentation of Research’ Chapter.

2. Results
This appendix contains the results of the survey given to
participants. The results of each question have been condensed
into a pie chart to visually represent the results. This appendix is
also referred to in the ‘Presentation of Research’ Chapter.

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Chapter I - Introduction

Modern science today is covering enormously vast ground. In the past


revolutionary discovers were occurrences that happened perhaps once a decade.
Today these phenomena are happening yearly, perhaps even at a monthly rate
and the speed is still increasing. Scientists now almost sound more like science
fiction writers and many people are struggling to keep up. Today it seems that
the foundations of western society are entering a very vulnerable state. New
discoveries in fields such as archaeology and quantum physics along with the
distribution of forbidden knowledge through the Internet are causing many people
to ask questions about our fundamental understanding of human history and
existence.
Across the world many filmmakers, authors, researchers and professionals
in a wide variety of fields are attempting to raise awareness of anomalies within
their area of work. These have been generally ignored or actively suppressed
because they threaten the existing models of knowing. The distribution of such
knowledge would undoubtedly cause a revolt between the people and the
governing authorities. The recent activities of Egypt are a great example of this.
This surge in global activism is causing many people to question what they have
been told and to make an active effort to find the truth for themselves. A vast
amount of secret information has become easily available such as evidence of
advanced ancient civilisations and the secrets of the Great Pyramids of Giza. This
evidence clearly implies that our ancients knew far more about the universe than
we do even today. Many films have been released to enlighten the public of the
sinister motives of the governments and corporations that have a hold over
western society. This material is far to comprehensive to discuss here but it would
be safe to assume that things just aren’t quite how they seem and awareness of
this is increasing rapidly. It is becoming clear that humans have far more
potential than has been let on and there is no better time than now to shake
loose the greedy and corrupt groups that are holding everyone back.
People are beginning to see through the values of consumerism and
becoming aware of how they have been manipulated through marketing to fund
the economy. In an unregulated market dominated by greed it is only a matter of
time before all corporations follow the mantra of profit before people. It is
becoming increasingly apparent that materialistic lifestyles are no longer viable as
our ecosystems are depleting as a result of over exploitation.
To say the least, the present era is becoming a very special time as old
paradigms are falling down. There needs to be a guiding force that can help

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facilitate the huge changes that are bound to come. But what form should this
take and how could this be done?
This dissertation will initially be exploring and exposing the underlying
causes of the many problems the world is facing today and shall be proposing
that the design industry has the potential to help solve them all through the
concept of design activism. While examining and exploring the subject of design
activism and design for change; this dissertation will also be proposing that the
design industry should unify and enforce the revolutionary developments in
quantum physics. These incredible breakthroughs if dealt with in the correct
manner could hold the possibility of solving all the problems of the present day.
This dissertation will also be exploring the possible technologies that may result
from utilising these discoveries. Primary research will be conducted to discover if
the public will be willing to except such technologies into their lives if they are
presented with the correct evidence to disarm their preconditioned scepticism. A
final discussion will also analyse how these technologies may alter the western
understanding of reality and therefore catalysing a transition in behaviour that
will benefit the individual as well as the collective whole of society.

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Chapter II - Argument and Discussion

The following topics may appear to be a digression from the subject at


hand however they are imperative to understanding the context and urgency of
the situations that need to be addressed. Many people avoid such issues because
of their controversial nature however when discussing how to make the world a
better place for everyone, addressing these issues is crucial. As previously stated,
the western world is living in very precarious times, though most people are
completely unaware of it. These people, the majority, source all of their
information about the world purely from what they are told through the
mainstream media such as radio, television, movies, magazines and newspapers.
This in turn directly affects their behaviour and more importantly their perception
of the reality they live in. A very limited amount of people have grasped the fact
that these portholes of information are controlled and regulated by higher powers
who’s goals and intensions are not those of ethics and compassion, like one would
assume, but are actually far more inclined to their own personal gain. “… In the
technetronic society the trend seems to be toward …effectively exploiting the
latest communication techniques to manipulate emotions and control reason.
Human beings become increasingly manipulated and malleable …” (Brzezinsk
1976, p. 11)
The late Edward Bernays (1928, p.9) who was one of the pioneers of
American propaganda, public opinion, and spin, also confirmed the manipulation
to be fact. He states: “The conscious and intelligent manipulation of organized
habits and opinion of the masses is an important element in a democratic society.
These who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible
government, which is the true ruling power in our country.” Much literature
confirming the conscious manipulation of society refers to America, however it is
important to note that in many cases the methods and values used are same in
Europe.
Steven Jacobson, author and producer of the audio series Mind Control in
America and Wake-Up America. Stated in his article entitled Media Mind Control:

In the book 1984, George Orwell warned that people were in danger of
losing their freedom of mind without being aware of it while it was
happening because of psychological, emotional, and intellectual
manipulation: mind control. The world of 1984 arrived unnoticed in
America. Psychological warfare is being waged against the public. The
problems in America are the result of people being led to believe things

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that are not true. Most of the people don’t pay conscious attention to the
things that affect them subconsciously. (See Lee Warren 2002)

Even back in 1958 great social thinker, Aldous Huxley was worried how
the development of new technology may be used to infringe upon the public free-
will and he even went as far as to compare the propaganda techniques of Hitler to
those of the American dictatorship. In his book ‘Brave New World Revisited’, he
quotes Hitler's Minister for Armaments, Albert Speer:

Hitler's dictatorship…differed in one fundamental point from all its


predecessors in history. It was the first dictatorship in the present period
of modern technical development, a dictatorship which made complete use
of all technical means for the domination of its own country. Through
technical devices like the radio and the loud-speaker, eighty million people
were deprived of independent thought. It was thereby possible to subject
them to the will of one man. . . (See Huxley 1958, p. 37)

Huxley was deeply concerned about these issues as anyone would be. He
continued further by saying, “Since Hitler's day the armory of technical devices at
the disposal of the would-be dictator has been considerably enlarged. As well as
the radio, the loudspeaker, the moving picture camera and the rotary press, the
contemporary propagandist can make use of television to broadcast the image ….
Thanks to technological progress, Big Brother can now be almost as omnipresent
as God.” (Huxley 1958, p. 38)
One of the most shocking and important examples of this type of
behaviour is expressed in what is known as the ‘Energy Invention Suppression.’
New Energy Congress member, Gary Vesperman. Compiled a document entitled
‘Energy Invention Suppression Cases’ where he stated:

In their efforts to improve the well-being of their fellow humans, inventors


often suffer poverty, slander, and suppression. Inventors of energy
devices in particular have been threatened by large energy corporations
who are allied with the United States Government and seek to enslave
people in subtle ways. The tactics used against energy inventors include
“legal” imprisonment on false charges, harassment by the IRS, and
outright criminal death threats, beatings, bribery, burglary, vandalism,
and arson. At least a few inventors have been murdered if they were not
dissuaded by other means. (Vesperman 2007)

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Thanks to the global flow of information enabled by the World Wide Web
coupled with global activist projects such as Project Camelot, the Orion Project,
the Disclosure Project and Zeitgeist Movement (just to name a few), awareness of
issues like this are increasing and resulting in what many have called a ‘Great
Global Awakening.’ This movement has even been recognised by Mr. Zbigniew
Brzezinski. Brzezinski is possibly the West’s most highly regarded geopolitical
strategist. He was Jimmy Carter’s National Security Adviser and he co-founded
the Trilateral Commission with David Rockefellor. He is also a member of the
infamous Council on Foreign Relations and a Bilderberg attendee. These three
organisations represent the master think tanks of Western Imperialism. The
following is an excerpt from Zbigniew Brzezinski’s talk before the shadow
government front known as the Council on Foreign Relations:

For the first time in human history almost all of humanity is politically
activated, politically conscious and politically interactive… The resulting
global political activism is generating a surge in the quest for personal
dignity, cultural respect and economic opportunity in a world painfully
scarred by memories of centuries-long alien colonial or imperial
domination… The worldwide yearning for human dignity is the central
challenge inherent in the phenomenon of global political awakening… That
awakening is socially massive and politically radicalizing… The nearly
universal access to radio, television and increasingly the Internet is
creating a community of shared perceptions and envy that can be
galvanized and channeled by demagogic, political or religious passions.
These energies transcend sovereign borders and pose a challenge both to
existing states as well as to the existing global hierarchy, on top of which
America still perches. (See Andrew Gavin Marshall 2011)

This represents undeniable evidence that a great awakening is underway


and that great changes are afoot. This information can be seen as proof that the
‘controlling establishment’ is uncertain of their ability to maintain status quo
among the people. “Zbigniew Brzezinski’s much feared ‘global political awakening’
is in full swing. Revolts in Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia and other countries represent a
truly monumental worldwide rallying cry for freedom that threatens to
immeasurably damage the agenda for the one world government, but only if the
successful revolutionaries can prevent themselves from being co-opted by a
paranoid and desperate global elite.” (Paul Joseph Watson 2011)
Coupled with the global awakening, the world we may also be seeing the
fall of capitalism and the demise of consumerism. “Advanced industrial countries

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like the US and UK are moving toward a post-consumer era – less materialist and
more spiritual.” reports journalist, Alex Benady (2008). This change in behaviour
is obviously attributed to many factors however could very well be a direct result
of the social and political awakening that is occurring. The validity of this situation
was amplified when it was recognised and addressed by Sir Martin Sorell in 2008.
Benady (2008) states that “In a series of extraordinary and unreported speeches
at seminars this year [2008], Sir Martin Sorrell, founder and CEO of WPP, the
world’ No 2 advertising group after Omnicom, representing trillions of dollars of
consumer spending worldwide, has been announcing what sounds suspiciously
like the imminent death of the consumer society in its current form. And other ad
execs are joining the chorus.” In one of his speeches Sorrell stated:

All our instincts as clients, agencies and media owners are to encourage
people to consume more – super consumption. People have become used
to the aspiration that you should consume more; the aspiration that you
should have a bigger car; the aspiration that you should have a number of
holidays, bigger houses and multiple houses. (See Benady 2008)

This is further proof that the death of consumerism maybe on the horizon.
Many are aware that consumerism is a knock on effect of Capitalism. It is
the inherent surge in addictive buying behaviour that results from an unregulated
market. Although the death of conspicuous consumption may have arrived,
capitalism may be around for some time yet. Economic systems are far more
turgid than the behaviour of the masses. Even though it is clear we will have to
remain within this system temporarily, it is more than obvious that the way in
which it is applied needs to be seriously examined. Capitalism it self can be seen
as one of the primary causes of the problems we see in the world today. Hence
why it should be discouraged and eliminated or at the very least, the extreme
negative effects should be counterbalanced by powerful industries such as design,
science and technology. The main problem with capitalism is that it doesn’t
account for everybody. The few control the wealth and they have the ability to
buy political power. Subsequently resulting in a union between capitalism and the
government ensuing in fascism, thus the use of propaganda to allow this kind of
greed to proceed undetected by the public. Eventually the unavoidable paradigm
arises where the few live lavishly at the expense of the masses. Big multinational
corporations cause big problems with their extreme emphasis on profit
maximisation. This eventually causes poverty, environmental destruction, ‘wage
slavery’ and destruction of democracy to name a few. Humans are degraded into
merely machines of production that can lead to dehumanisation.

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Although a mass awakening to these facts is currently underway, sadly
many people are still unaware of all of this and simply except it to be ‘just the
way things are’. Many are also so dependent on this system that they will often
act sceptical and defensive when presented with such enlightening/controversial
information. One thing that cannot be denied by anyone is environmental damage
that has been caused by capitalist attitudes. The renowned Worldwatch Institute
augments the fragility of the environmental status. This Washington-based
organisation is regarded as the world's pre-eminent environmental think tank.
They posted in their State of the World 2010 report:

Preventing the collapse of human civilisation requires nothing less than a


wholesale transformation of dominant cultural patterns. This
transformation would reject consumerism... and establish in its place a
new cultural framework centred on sustainability…Habits that are firmly
set – from where people live to what they eat – will all need to be altered
and in many cases simplified or minimised... From Earth's perspective, the
American or even the European way of life is simply not viable. (Erik
Assadourian 2010, p. 3)

It becoming clear that in order to save the planet the instinctual need for
economic growth must be limited, however Murrey Bookchin (1998, p. 93-94)
argues that this is not possible:

To speak of 'limits to growth' under a capitalistic market economy is as


meaningless as to speak of limits of warfare under a warrior society. The
moral pieties, that are voiced today by many well-meaning
environmentalists, are as naive as the moral pieties of multinationals are
manipulative. Capitalism can no more be 'persuaded' to limit growth than
a human being can be 'persuaded' to stop breathing. Attempts to 'green'
capitalism, to make it 'ecological', are doomed by the very nature of the
system as a system of endless growth.

Bookchin (1996, p. 43) also confirms the argument that in order to overcome
ecological crisis we must overcome the dominant nature of our social, political
and economic systems that is inherently caused by a capitalist system:

The conflict between humanity and nature is an extension of the conflict


between human and human. Unless the ecology movement encompasses
the problem of domination in all its aspects, it will contribute nothing

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toward eliminating the root causes of the ecological crisis of our time. If
the ecology movement stops at mere reformism in pollution and
conservation control - at mere 'environmentalism' - without dealing
radically with the need for an expanded concept of revolution, it will
merely serve as a safety value for the existing system of natural and
human exploitation.

Our civilisation is in dire need of nothing less than a revolution if we are to turn
the existing situations around permanently. Anything less of a revolution will only
result in a repartition of the same mistakes and another rotation of the endless
circle. These offer very persuasive arguments for the elimination of capitalism.
Even if one is sceptical of propaganda and political corruption, it is impossible to
deny that the planets ability to support our civilisation is being brought into
question thanks to gross exploitation.

Why is all of this important? What has propaganda, psychological warfare,


materialism, consumerism and capitalism got to do with changing things for the
better? The answer is everything. Right now the majority of design practices are
conforming along with the view of reality put forth by such propagandists
(regularly referred to as the controlling elite, Illuminati, invisible government,
New World Order to name a few) via the medium of television or in fact all
variations of mainstream media. This is consequently amplifying the effect of
these mediums while simultaneously amplifying the values of which these
propagandists would like the masses to adopt. This is essentially the view of
reality that will allow them increase their dominance over the masses, increase
their personal gain and eventually control the entirety of the world’s resources. As
previously mentioned, Edward Bernays argues that propaganda is an important
part of a democratic system however, it would be safe to assume the majority of
the population would disagree when the controllers of this invisible guiding force
use their authority for personal gain without consideration of the consequences of
which the masses have to suffer. War, poverty, debt, disease and ecological
destruction are the best examples of this.
In order to evoke real change from a design perspective, the design
industry as a whole must unite and operate independently of the values projected
by these systems. Instead of following the corrupt regime of the controlling elite,
promoting the values of capitalism and delving ever deeply for gross profit, the
industry should stand up and reform back to its principal role in society, one that
is primarily concerned with ethics and compassion while fundamentally elevating
the mental and physical suffering of all life on earth.

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Time for great change is has arrived. There is no longer a choice, for the
reasons detailed above it is clear that great change is a must, the prosperity of
civilisation depends on it. For the first time in history western culture has a blank
canvas to paint on and is slowly gathering all the tools needed to sculpt the
golden age. Until now the vast majority have looked at the governments and
mainstream departments to lead the way and guide the collective evolution.
However it is now obvious that the future is in the hands of today’s critical
thinkers. The answer to catalysing, nurturing and facilitating these huge changes
may lay in the hands of today’s new designers. This may well be done through
the medium of design activism.

Defining the term design activism today is a task that proves more difficult
than first perceived. The terms have become extremely flexible and more difficult
to define. The term design is extremely broad and many people carry different
perceptions and connotations of what it actually means. It can be used in what
seems to be an infinite amount of contexts and can be used as a verb, noun,
adjective, prefix or a suffix. In his book Design Activism, Alastair Fuad-Luke
(2009 p. 5) offers a working definition of what design is today:

“Design is the act of deliberately moving from an existing situation to a


preferred one by professional designers or others applying design knowingly or
unknowingly.”

The term activism also falls under the same bracket. It too comes with a
variety of different connotations. Most people immediately think of huge crowds
of people with handmade signs protesting outside of animal testing facilities
causing trouble and social unrest. Images like this aren’t necessarily what
activism is about. Similarly to design, activism can come in a huge variety of
forms. Fued-Luke (2009 p. 6) also gives us a working definition of the term
activism:

“Activism is about ... taking actions to catalyse, encourage or bring about


change, in order to elicit social, cultural and/or political transformations.”

So now combining the two terms together becomes a little less problematic. It
can simply be understood as applying design knowledge to catalyze social,
cultural or political change. But why design? Why designers?
Design is the overall tool that defines our reality or as Victor Papanek (1972
p. 23) puts it, ‘‘Design is basic to all human activities —the placing and patterning

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of any act towards a desired goal constitutes a design process.’’

Designers are, after all, licensed to imagine, to realize what John Wood calls
‘attainable micro-utopias’, to make the unthinkable possible. Design is a
motive force in suggesting and realizing new materializations for our world.
Design can reconnect the disconnected and make new connections. Design
can challenge the underlying, implicit ethics of the explicit forms we create.
Design can create new memes (units of cultural transmission that elicit new
behaviour). Design can find the best fit between economic viability, ethical
and cultural acceptability and ecological truth. Design can seek genuine
mutual benefits to humankind and nature. Design can breathe new life into
the everyday by reconnecting the conceptual with the natural and the
natural with the artificial. Design can ask ‘what now?’ and ‘what next?’.
Design can disturb current narratives. Design can rupture the present with
counter-narratives. Design can contribute to reformist approaches. It has
the ability to catalyse societal transformations. Design is critical imagining.
Design generates considered possibilities for a new, ‘beautiful strangeness’
(with new values embedded or implicit). Design can readjust our notion of
beauty to embrace a multitude of truths – economic, political, social,
ecological, ethical, technical, symbolic, institutional, philosophical and
cultural. (Fued-Luke 2009, p. xx-xxi)

In short, design has the potential to obtain anything within its grasp. It is
the fundamental creator of our human reality. Current circumstances would
dictate that if a problem exists and solving it cannot make profit, little effort
would be made to resolve this problem. One can only imagine what could be
achieved if all designers come together and remove the notion of gross profit
from their primary concerns. One can only postulate what could be achieved if all
designers unify to create a sustainable, ethical, socially conscious and prosperous
world. As John Thackara (2006 p. 1) states: “If we can design our way into
difficulty, we can design our way out.”
Fued-Luke and Thackara are not the only one who argues that design
should be taking an active role in designing in a more sustainable, ethical and
socially conscious manner. Many designers are beginning to chime the same
tune. Isabelle Swiderski (the Creative Director at Seven25, a multidisciplinary
design consultancy for not for profit and cultural organisations) recently published
a passionate call for design activism:

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Isn’t it time for design to become activism again? Beyond reducing harm
and giving lip-service to sustainability, beyond campaigns that aim to
“raise awareness” and not much else. Shouldn’t we stop being so pleased
with what design and design thinking can do and actually take an active
part in doing it? If every designer, studio or consultancy devoted even a
fraction of their time to imagining new solutions to problems greater than
those we get paid for, change would happen much faster. If we all
leveraged the collaborations that make our practices fruitful to make ideas
happen, change would happen much faster. If we all were more prone to
sharing our ideas and allowing others to build on them with us, change
would happen much faster. Don’t you think? (Swiderski 2010)

Design activism is becoming an increasingly popular phenomenon; although not


popular enough, it is now beginning to crop up regularly in the mainstream
design society. In September this year The Design History Society will be holding
their annual conference on the topic of ‘Design Activism and Social Change’. Last
year The School of Visual Arts in New York City completed their first six-week
intensive cause entitled ‘Impact: Design for Social Change’. Lead by Mark Randall
(from WorldStudio) and Steven Heller including guest lecturers, Milton Glaser,
William Drenttel and Michelle Mullineaux from DesignNYC. The course
concentrates on three aspects of design for social change: evolving the big idea,
developing the pitch, and funding the project. Courses like this have had great
success and offer a great insight into how the design industry is beginning to
redefine its interest and use its influence for positive means. Design for social
change can be seen as a form of activism. But activism such as this only attacks
the problems caused by much larger issues. The question still remains as to
whether real change can be evoked without confronting these much larger issues
head on. What other efforts have been made to elicit change in design
methodology?
Organisations such as the Designers Accord or Design Can Change aim to
enlighten, unite and engage designers and corporations through a pledge of
responsibility. Most importantly, they endeavor to manifest a community of
designers who are connected in policy, culture, business, social and
environmental progress. Some organisations have implemented their argument of
unifying within a social design context. Organisations such as The Hub SF,
OpenIDEO and Design 21 open up the concept of innovation and social enterprise
while offering physical and virtual places for concerned citizens/designers to
collaborate in. Combining design knowledge with social enterprises could be
today’s perfect activism. A Social enterprise is defined as any for-profit or non-

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profit organisation that applies capitalistic strategies to achieving philanthropic
goals. This married with the power of the design discipline could create a
brilliantly effective medium for which design can make a huge difference. These
are great examples of how aspects of the design industry are operating
independently of the regimes that are purely concerned with gross profit.
However once again the question still remains, can the huge changes that are so
desperately needed be created through different methods, methods that could
perhaps get closer to the heart of all the problems?
How would one access the deepest problems that we face today? The most
effective way to solve a problem is to go straight to the source. This source as
discussed previously, would be the values and perceptions of reality unwillingly
adopted through propaganda and capitalist models. How does one attack the
values of capitalist propaganda that have engrained themselves so intrinsically
within the majority of people’s minds? One possible option could be with the use
of technology. It was the advent of technology that allowed capitalism and
propaganda to flourish so rampantly, one would assume that the conscious use of
the same mediums could have the ability of counteracting these issues. Or to put
it less poetically, if these methods were used to control peoples minds and
behaviour, can they be used to set them free?
Before discussing how technology could be used as a form of design
activism, one must at least acknowledge the dangers of unintentionally using
technology irresponsibly. It would be fair to say we are still in riding the wave of
the industrial revolution. Western industrial culture lives and breathes technology.
Everybody would agree that it is a blessing but it is becoming obvious now that it
can be hindrance if not managed and applied in the correct manner. As Thackara
(2006 p. 2 -3) articulates: “technology has evolved from a collection of tools used
for doing things into a self perpetuating system. At the time, the benefits of
technology seemed to be self-evident: better, faster, smarter —and usually
cheaper —products. But as the extent of technology’s penetration into daily life
has grown, the differences between gadgets have decreased; technology has
become at best a commodity, at worst an infringement on personal space—a
form of trespass even, or pollution.” He continues his point further by saying
“We’ve built a technology-focused society that is remarkable on means, but hazy
about ends. Means and ends have lived apart too long in discussions of
innovation. Understanding why things change —and reflecting on how they should
change—are not separate issues.” (Thackara 2006, p. 2)
This furthers the argument that design and technology should be applied in
a more socially conscious manner. One needs only to sit back and reflect for a
moment to comprehend how the improper application of technology has affected

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cultural values. It has now arrived to the point where it is not us that control
technology but in fact it indirectly controls us. The term ‘Autonomous technology’
describes how technology seems to feed on itself, evolving with a force irresistible
to human individuals who understand technology as "inherently dynamic and self-
augmenting" (McGinn 1991, p.73). These self-perpetuating developments have a
direct effect upon cultural values as well as human psychology and behaviour.
The irresponsible use of technology may include short-sighted consideration of
the problems at hand. Such as applying short-term solutions with little attention
paid these long-term effects, which may eventually result in more problems that
are harder to solve. This irresponsible use of technology inherently creates a
downward cycle of social repair and restoration. This is also amplified by the
synergistic relationship between technology and society. Technology influences
the values of a society by changing expectations and realities. The
implementation of technology is also influenced by the values and so the
downward cycle continues. Nobel Prize winner and inventor Dennis Gabor (1970
p. 9) raised this very issue 41 years ago, “The most important and urgent
problems of the technology of today are no longer the satisfactions of the primary
needs or of archetypal wishes, but the reparation of the evils and damages by the
technology of yesterday.” Yet today in 2011 the same mistakes are still being
made. For example, information technology is placing barriers between people,
especially the younger generation as the need to meet face to face is decreasing.
The advent of computer games and television has caused people to leave the
home less. The need to actually experience and learn from life has decreased.
Everybody is slowly becoming slaves to their own virtual comfort zones. As Max
Frisch puts it, “Technology... the knack of so arranging the world that we don't
have to experience it.” (See Boorstin 1962 p. iii)
Technology has a huge amount of social influence; it therefore needs to
applied correctly. If technology is to be applied correctly it must be done in a
holistic manner with primary consideration to long-term behavioural and cultural
repercussions. We do not necessarily need to do away with technology or
industrial thinking as some may suggest. We just need to learn from our mistakes
and think about our goals and what we want to achieve socially. Jacque Fresco,
futurist, inventor and creator of the Venus Project puts forth a compelling
argument that technology could be the primary solution to all of the problems of
civilisation. His life long work, the Venus Project, paints a future of freedom,
prosperity and equality. A future where the monetary system is abolished and
subsequently so is all of the negative effects of this system such as scarcity,

greed, debt, poverty, corruption and inequality. This is all made possible through
a resource-based economy where the intelligent use of technology allows

13
everything to be produced in abundance in a completely sustainable manner.
“When applied in a humane matter, the coming cybernated age could see the
merging of technology and cybernetics into a workable synergy for all people. It
could achieve a world free of hunger, war, and poverty” (Fresco 2002 p. 7).
Regardless of whether people believe concepts like this to be achievable or
not, it is still clear that science and technology is the future of our culture but a
serious re-examination of how it is applied is essential: “There is almost no area
of human life today that is not touched by the effects of science and technology.
Yet are we clear about the place of science in the totality of human life-what
exactly it should do and by what it should be governed? This last point is critical
because unless the direction of science is guided by a consciously ethical
motivation, especially compassion, its effects may fail to bring benefit. They may
indeed cause great harm” (Dahlia Lama 2005, p. 9).
How can the design industry utilise technology in order to elicit social
change? The most effective way to elicit social change is to modify people’s
cultural views and alter the way in which they understand their place in the world.
To create change one must delve deep into the source, such as addressing the
fundamental underlying perceptions that everyone shares. “Unfortunately, books
and articles attempting to describe the future have one foot rooted in the past,
and interpret the future through today’s concepts and technology. Most people
are comfortable and less threatened with this perspective on change. But they
often react negatively to proposals suggesting changes in the way they live. For
this reason, when speaking of the future, very few explore or discuss changes in
our social structure, much less our values.” (Fresco 2002, p. 6)
Before discussing how technology can be used to catalyze change, one
must identify the fundamental collective perceptions that are to be addressed by
such technology. Many quantum physicists are beginning to argue that it is our
scientific view of reality that has limited and distorted our worldview. To explain
briefly, the Newtonian model of reality has prevailed for the last couple of
centuries. This view holds that the universe is completely mechanical at all levels,
from macroscopic to microscopic. In this Newtonian view of the universe,
everything is made up of independent components that move and interact in
predictable ways. These predictable tendencies can be observed, precisely
measured and are expected to behave the same way at every observation. His
Holiness, the Dahlia lama (2005 p. 12) has a wonderful way with words and
describes the drawbacks of this view of reality perfectly:

One of the principle problems with radical scientific materialism is the


narrowness of vision that results and the potential for nihilism that might

14
ensue. Nihilism, materialism and reductionism, are above all problems
from a philosophical and especially a human perspective since they can
potentially impoverish the way we see ourselves. For example, whether
we see ourselves as random biological creatures or as special beings
endowed with a dimension of consciousness and moral capacity will make
an impact on how we feel about ourselves and treat others. In this view
many dimensions of the full reality of what it is to be human; art, ethics,
spirituality, goodness, beauty and above all consciousness either are
reduced to the chemical reactions of firing neurons or are seen as a matter
of purely imaginary constructs. The danger then is that humanity may be
reduced to nothing more than biological machines. The products of pure
chance and a random combination of genes with no purpose other than
the biological imperative of reproduction.

It is this view of reality that everybody in western industrial culture carries with
them. It is engrained within their consciousness and affects the entirety of their
existence. The primary characteristic of such a worldview is that of separateness;
the belief that mind is separate from body, that humans are separate from
nature, from animals, from each other and from the earth. This is in fact not true.
“What is needed is a change in our direction and purpose. Our main problem is a
lack of understanding of what it means to be human and that we are not separate
from nature. Our values, beliefs, and behavior are as much a part of natural law
as any other process. We are all an integral part of the chain of life” (Fresco
2002, p. 7-8).
The Newtonian view of reality has given a platform for capitalist
propaganda and consumerist values to build upon. The overindulgence of material
possessions at the cost of the natural world as well has fellow human beings is
inevitable within such a worldview. Subsequently, if such a worldview was to be
addressed, changed or disproved, then the values adopted from capitalist
propaganda, materialism and consumerism would simply expire.
So how can the design industry address, change or disprove this worldview?
How can design activism help initiate the birth of an ethical and compassionate
society that no longer needs to thrive on material possessions? How can design
embark on an ambitious journey to break the spell of propaganda and show the
masses their true potential? The most promising way of achieving this is by
reinforcing the new developments of quantum physics.
It is incredibly fortunate that the new understandings of quantum physics
and consciousness have completely exposed the nihilistic worldview while
simultaneously disproving the Newtonian universe of separate mechanical parts.

15
World-renowned quantum physicist Dr. John Hagelin sums these new discoveries
as follows:

With the real cutting edge knowledge, the discovery of the unified field,
the so-called super string field, we now understand that life is
fundamentally one. At the basis of all life’s diversity, there is unity. At our
basis, you and I are one, and that unity at the basis of mind and matter is
consciousness, universal consciousness. So with that deep understanding
that consciousness isn’t created by the brain, it’s not purely an outcome of
molecular chemical processes in the brain, but is fundamental in nature,
it’s the very core of nature, we call it the unified field. (Hagelin 2007)

The implications of such an understanding are inconceivable as they suggest that


our thoughts and intentions actually create the reality we experience. For many
this may seem preposterous but this concept is quickly becoming a scientifically
proven fact.

“We humans are much more than we think we are and Psychoenergetic
Science continues to expand the proof of it. For the last four hundred
years, an unstated assumption of science is that human intention cannot
affect what we call ‘physical reality.’ Our experimental research of the past
decade shows that, for today's world and under the right conditions, this
assumption is no longer correct.” (Tiller 2009)

These new understandings clearly reinforce the belief of an esoteric


reality. Esoteric theory suggests that the physical Universe as perceived by
humans' five senses is but just a tiny aspect of a far more complex and vaster
total 'reality'. Such an understanding if spread widely enough would revolutionise
the western view of reality. Instead of conforming along with the ideals of
television and sheer materialism, the masses can experience for themselves an
alternative and more fulfilling path to happiness. A path that doesn’t promote
competitive attitudes and separateness but actually a collective journey of unity
and compassion, which allows them to experience the benefits of such actions
first hand. If everybody could accept and reinforce this new worldview of the
western social, political, ecological and technological problems could come to an
end. It is rather easy for people to deny and ignore opinions but scientific fact is
far more difficult to disregard. Furthermore, this information may be new to our
western society but it is not new to the world. Quantum physics has been
spectacularly successful in verifying what eastern spiritual mystics have known

16
for 2500 years. It is not our brain that gives rise to our consciousness; instead it
is our consciousness, or mind, that creates everything that seems so real to us.
Previously the Newtonian worldview left these ideas to be understood as were
superstition until scientifically proven by our science as fact. That day has now
arrived:

“Science has discovered spirituality: there is now a logically consistent


scientific theory of God and spirituality based on quantum physics and the
primacy of consciousness (the idea that consciousness, not matter, is the
ground of all being). And there is replicated experimental data in support
of the theory. In other words, although still largely unsung in the media,
we now have viable science of spirituality that is threatening a paradigm
shift from today’s matter-based science that exclusively encourages
materiality.” (Goswami 2011, p. 1)

It is proposed that the design industry should unify and enforce these new
understandings with a new range spiritual technology. This range of spiritual
technologies could act as the perfect medium to aid the transition from material
dependency to spiritual enlightenment. Advanced industrial culture has used
scientific advancements to elevate many aspects of physical suffering however;
mental suffering is still commonplace. A range of spiritual technology based on
the new quantum paradigm would address such an issue as well as many more.
The new spiritual understandings have been applied to modern scientific
thought and the discoveries have been literally sensational. This brand new
science if combined with a brand new force of design could have an astounding
effect on western culture. If the culture can embrace this new information and
understanding, exceptional wellbeing, prosperity and health can be accessed by
anyone who wishes to obtain it. What’s more is this is only the tip of the iceberg.
No longer can ancient techniques and spiritual concepts be ridiculed as mere
superstition. It has now been proven they have been right all along.

17
Chapter III - Presentation of Research

Before exploring possible concepts of spiritual/quantum technology as


forms of design activism, one must discover whether the general public are open
and interested in such technology, if presented with the correct scientific
evidence.
To collect primary research into this subject area, one must investigate
how people react to the concept of spiritual/quantum technology and also
investigate into the perceived effects of such a shift in understanding, both
individually and socially. This research attempts to discover people’s opinions on
these new revolutionary scientific discoveries and to determine whether they
would be open to exploring such technologies. To do this the participants would
need to be exposed to these brand new understandings as people rarely are
exposed to them unless they are actively searching for them. In this sense, this
kind of research can be seen as a small act of activism as it addresses the
participants fundamental understanding of reality while simultaneously
discovering whether they are willing to embrace these new concepts of
understanding, even though they question many things they have been told in
the past.
There may be some difficulties in gathering such information accurately
and effectively. For example, the breadth and weight of the material goes against
much of what people believe. For the majority of their lives they have been
educated to live and breath through the Newtonian world view. Although the
Newtonian paradigm has been over for many years now and the quantum
revolution is well underway. It is rarely pushed and addressed by the
mainstream media and is therefore still brand new information for the majority of
people. Persuading an individual to open their mind to such controversial
concepts is a problematic task on it’s own. It becomes even more difficult when
trying to achieve this within the very limited time frame that people are willing to
offer to one conducting such research.
It was considered that participants should watch an informational
documentary film on the endless possibilities of the new quantum paradigm
followed by a series of questions that reflect upon the information. Unfortunately,
preliminary investigations made it clear that participates were less than willing to
give up as much as 1 – 2 hours of their time. For this reason alone, the research
method of a survey was chosen. This survey was to be accompanied by a brief
informational pamphlet (see Appendix 1). This allowed participates to digest a
brief summery of the information and implications of these new discoveries at
their own convenience, then completing the survey by answering a small number

18
of questions related to the information. This method of research was chosen
because it offered a high amount of convenience from both the researcher and
the participant, in comparison to an interview scenario. This method also offered
fewer restrictions on the participant such as time to digest or re-read the
information before having to answer the questions. This would in theory allow the
participant to answer the questions with confidence and accuracy without
pressure from the researcher or the time and location.
The survey was distributed digitally through the Internet via social
networking websites. It was also distributed physically, however this method was
far more challenging. Copies were left in public areas where people may have few
spare moments to complete the survey however this proven to be rather
unsuccessful. The survey was also distributed personally with the request that
they be completed and returned. Although the eventual sample size was
satisfactory, the battle for the public’s undivided attention proved to be an uphill
struggle. In the future, a larger number of distributors would clearly improve the
success of such data collection.
The brief information pamphlet contained information concerning the
convergence of modern science and spirituality, the new revolutionary discoveries
about water and the emergence of the free energy movement. These 3 topics
were chosen because they are highly important topics that everybody should be
aware of. They also open doors to infinite possibilities that will bring huge
benefits to everybody’s mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing. Compiling such a
pamphlet proved to be a difficult task as such brief explanations of such vast
topics doesn’t offer any justice to their importance and possible implications. The
preceding questions were formulated to specifically discover the participant’s
opinions on the topics such as their importance, both personally and socially. The
questions also aimed to discover whether the participant would be interested in
the resulting technology and also to discover their willingness to participate in
their own activism by sharing such information with friends or family.
To draw conclusions from the data, all questions featured in the survey
were closed, limited to a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response. This was to allow simple
and effective analysis of the responses while simultaneously making the questions
easier for the contributor to answer clearly. The age bracket of the participant
was also required as this could be a deciding factor as to how the partaker
reacted to the information. One open question at the end offered those who were
not open to the concepts to explain why, as well as to allow them to offer
guidance as to what else would pursued them in the future. This was to offer a
much greater understanding of the variables to which certain perceptions of
reality are anchored. To present the results of the collected data, a pie chart was

19
generated to graphically represent the responses of each question. This allowed
the responses to be clearly identified and the overall outcome of the result to be
acknowledged unmistakably.
The results discovered by the survey
Figure 1:
Question 2: On a scale of 1 -10 matched the hypothesis and concurred with the
please rate the importance of these
discoveries: preferred outcome. A high majority of the
participants found the information displayed in the
pamphlet to be of the utmost importance. When
asked to rate the importance of the discoveries out
of 10, 79% of participants voted 8 or above, 54%
of which voted 10 out of 10 (see figure 1). 85% of
people also said they would be interested in a
range of spiritual technology that would make the
invisible/spiritual/quantum aspects of their reality
Figure 2:
Question 7: Would you be visible and manageable to help improve their
interested in technology that could
make the invisible aspects of reality overall wellbeing (see figure 2). Furthermore, 92%
visible?
of the individuals surveyed personally believed
that such technologies would benefit society as a
whole (see figure 3). Overall, the response to the
information and proposed concepts was far more
positive than anticipated and it would seem that
the public are far more open-minded than
predicted. It may be said that the research
Figure 3:
Question 9: Do you think these succeeded as a small act of activism. 74% said
technologies would benefit society
as a whole? that they were enlightened by the information and
85% said they would share it with their friends
and family (See Appendix 2). Additionally 84%
said they would be more aware of how their
thoughts and intensions affect themselves and the
world around them (See Appendix 2). 85% of the
participants also admitted that they would be
Figure 4:
Question 10: Will you be more open
more open to spiritual concepts in the future (see
towards concepts of spirituality in
figure 4). This undoubtedly proves that there is a
the future?
clear market and open opportunity for spiritual
technology to enter the modern western society,
providing they have been pre-empted with
scientific justification.

20
Chapter IV – Further Discussion

The new spiritual understandings of reality (informed by quantum physics)


have been applied to modern science experiments by researchers all over the
world. With the assumption that the consciousness and energy are the foundation
of all matter, understanding the strengths and limitations of the power of human
consciousness is essential. The number of researchers and scientists exploring
these avenues of thought is increasing to this day. These experiments have
opened a floodgate to what could seem like infinite possibilities. It would be
impossible to articulate all of the discoveries here, however a brief summery is
definitely appropriate as these discoveries could have massively positive
implications to the health and wellbeing of everybody on the planet.
Healing intensions (thoughts) can actually be sent from one person to
another instantly over a limitless distance. This has been proven and measured
using bio-electrography that allows bio-photons to be observed as they are sent
and received by the participants. This is not only applicable from person to person
but also from person to plants too. These thoughts are not only received but an
instant and measurable improvement in energy is exhibited.
These new technologies such as bio-electrography have made it possible to
actually photograph and accurately measure a person’s aura and energy body
(charka system). These subtle parts of a person’s physical presence are very
important to a person’s health and wellbeing as they directly deal with vital
energies of a person’s being. Experiments with meditation have proved to
dramatically improve the strength and coherence of a person’s aura while also
helping to align a person’s charkas. This allows their life energy to flow more
efficiently. This of course is proven to have a direct affect on their physical and
mental health. Disease can now be understood as a discordance and disharmony
between the heart and mind. Whereas conventional western medicine only
stretches the surface of most health problems, energy/quantum-healing goes
straight to the source and cures these disharmonies. The best example of this is
Kurt Peterson, an energy healer that is renowned world wide as the best
alternative cure to cancer. He primarily deals with patients in stage 3 or 4. In
most cases the patient goes into complete remission within 90 days.
Research into the structure of water has lead to proof that water is in fact
conscious and does in fact have memory. The structure of the water can be
changed instantly by written, verbal and mental communication such as thoughts.
For example, the structure of water can be altered from abstract broken
geometry to beautiful symmetrical geometry, similar to a snowflake, simply by
saying thank you to it. Similarly, highly polluted water can be purified simply

21
through the act of prayer and positive thought. The positive structures of the
water are also directly related to the energy of the water. This restructured water
will increase a person’s health while also re-energising and re-harmonising the
person’s body and mind. The structure of the water has been proved to have
incredible positive effects on human health, healing and growth. When used
within the correct context the possible health benefits of restructured water are
enormous. Especially when it is considered that the human body is between 60-
80% water. Experiments were also carried out on human blood. It is possible to
get a complete understanding of the condition of a person’s body from one small
drop. The test subject’s red blood cells had lost their electrical charge so they
stuck together. This is usually associated with heart disease, lung disease and
arthritis. The patient is asked to take a small sip of restructured water and the
blood is tested again. Just 12 minutes later the blood has already become
completely healthy.
Many more phenomenal discoveries are taking place everyday as a result of
the quantum paradigm and the convergence of science and spirituality. This only
strengthens the argument of the unification of the design industry plus the
enforcement of these discoveries and understandings of reality. So how can the
designers of today utilise spiritual technology as a form of design activism? What
form should such technology manifest?
This technology could take the form of interactive biofeedback systems for
use in the home. These systems could make use of the latest aura and energy
body imaging technology. This accompanied with built in software would enable
the management of energy fields and also an increase in mind-body knowledge.
This type of home system would enable people to see the invisible aspects of
themselves, as they are no less important than the visible. For example, ‘Prana’
the vital life force energy of this universe, is said to be more critical to our
survival than air, water, food or any other substance. Such technology will allow
users to actually see and record the vital energies of their being. Additionally this
will permit them to maximise their physical and mental health while optimising
their spiritual evolution. Such technology could be marketed and sold with
systems such as the Nintendo Wii, in a similar vein to the Wii Fit program.
Alternatively, the system could be sold as a complete hardware and software
package for the home PC. Such interactive technology would also offer great
educational qualities to young children as it would offer them an early
understanding of their spiritual capacity while also cultivating a perception of how
their actions and thoughts affect their health and wellbeing. This would also
present them with an exciting way to obtain optimum mental health, fulfilment
and genuine happiness without the need for material indulgence. Coincidently

22
related applications of such technology are already surfacing. A number of
spiritual-healing institutions are making access to such systems in return for a
consultation fee. Furthermore, Jahannes Fisslinger, researcher and author of
‘Aura Imaging Photography’ and ‘Aura Mastery’ has developed an ‘Aura Video
Station’ which offers a range of complete off-the-shelf packages for such
institutions to purchase. This acts as proof that such technology is already in use
and it is only matter of time before it becomes available to everyone at an
affordable price.
Another form of beneficial technology that could be utilised from the new
quantum paradigm is ‘Quantum Vacuum (or Zero Point) Electromagnetic
Generators’. These generators tap into the so-called Quantum Vacuum
electromagnetic potential of so-called ‘empty’ space. It is estimated that every
cubic centimetre of space has enough potential energy to run the world's energy
needs for one day. As previously mentioned, large energy companies have
actively suppressed such clean energy generators for many years, however, the
‘energy invention suppression’ seems to be coming to an end. Many inventors are
now having the opportunity to publicise the authenticity of such inventions. It
would be wise for the design industry to promptly use its activist authority to aid
the recognition and distribution of such energy generators. This could be achieved
by collaborating together with inventors and social enterprises to pledge that
every home, office and factory are offered the ability to enjoy the benefits of free
and clean energy. This will once and for all bring an end to use of environmental
damaging fossil fuels. These are just a few of many ways in which the design
industry can utilise spiritual/quantum technology for social change.
This enlightened technology and esoteric understanding of reality is
already emerging and making a difference to people lives. Perhaps the biggest
impact so far is that of physical health. These understandings have shone a light
on the outdated nature of today’s medical systems. Dossey (2006) states:

Future generations, looking back, will regard conventional medicine during


the twentieth century as being as limited as five-finger arithmetic. A new
medicine is arising-one which embraces spirituality and consciousness as
emphatically as conventional medicine has dismissed them. (See Edwards
p. 1)

The documentary film ‘The Living Matrix – The Science of Healing’ explores these
new understandings and also features of number of individuals with chronic,
terminal, and incurable diseases that make remarkable recoveries thanks to these
revolutionary understandings. It is imperative that design activists of all

23
disciplines use their power to make it possible for everybody to access the
benefits of these discoveries.
So what other types of spiritual technology are beggining to emerge?
Examples of practical applications have emerged over the past year. One popular
application is that of quantum jewellery originally developed by David Serida.
These hand made quantum jewellery pieces have been scientifically tested to
raise at persons body voltage and frequency by a factor of 2-3 times its normal
energy. This has a direct effect on a person’s health, welling, motivation, mental
clarity and immune system just to name a few. A company called Life
TechnologyTM has developed similar products. Their product line specialises in
metaphysical tools for spiritual healing, protection and enlightenment as well as
alchemy and homeopathy products. Many of their products are based on the
incredible inventions of Nikola Tesla. A small number of water restructuring
products have been developed to allow people to experience the health benefits
of positively restructured water. A company ‘Transcendent Water’ have made
restructuring units available that can be installed in various parts of the home. A
company called ‘Holo Water’ are also currently retailing water generators and
water bottles that restructure and preserve the water to maximise health. A
number of ‘brainwave entertainment products’ have been developed such as
Binearal Beats and Isotonic Tones specifically for to aid meditation without the
need for years of practice. More sophisticated technology is also being developed
such as the Shakti. The Shakti is a mind apparatus that uses magnetic fields with
signals embedded in them for consciousness exploration, spiritual growth, mood
enhancements, altered-state experience, and learning brain structure and
function.
Although the great awakening is well underway and the ascent from
material slavery has begun, there is still much more work to be done. Designers
and civilians alike must use all the power they can muster to catalyse and nurture
the desperate changes needed to raise the vibration of humanity. All should
pledge to follow the plan articulated by renowned quantum physicist Dr. Amit
Goswami (2011, p. 1-2):

First, we employ activism to bring media attention to quantum and


primacy-of-consciousness thinking and the new paradigm; this will grant
support for further research and bring about applications of the new
paradigm of such undeniable weight and value that the old paradigm will
crash under it. Second, we use the transformative power of quantum
physics to renew ourselves individually to become exemplars and
harbingers for social change in the appropriate direction. Third, we

24
recognize that the current materialism-dominated structures of our social
systems are heavily biased against ordinary people pursuing a meaningful
life of creativity and transformation. Accordingly, we use activism to
change our social systems in such a way that ordinary people can live
transformative meaningful lives and fulfil their human potential, and even
pursue the happiness that only creative and spiritual pursuits can bring.

25
Chapter V - Conclusion

In summery, many issues have been uncovered during the course of this
dissertation. It has been established that many sociological problems suffered
today stem from the values of capitalist propaganda and the lack of freedom that
has resulted from this. Much of the difficulties faced today would never have
come into existence if it weren’t for this dominant and unethical dictatorship.
Slowly but surely the masses are awakening to the reality of such a predicament.
Design activism is becoming an increasingly popular phenomenon and has all of
the power needed to nurture and evoke the incredible changes that are bound to
manifest in the not so distant future. The time is right, the tools are now available
(thanks to the new quantum paradigm), the public are ready and waiting, all that
is needed is definite action.
However, what still remains to be learned is how this definite action can be
achieved. What needs to be done and when is clear but the question of how still
remains. How can the world’s designers be persuaded to direct their efforts for
social change when the need for profit still prevails? Further research into the
nature of funding still needs to be actioned, as well as an understanding of how
internal awareness within the design sector can be achieved.
The shortcomings of this research can be seen in the lack of
counterclaims. As the topic at hand is controversial in nature and requires a
journey of understanding before the main issues can be presented, a much higher
level of persuasion is needed to justify the argument. It could therefore be said
that all the counterclaims needed for a fair discussion come from the generally
sceptical disposition of the reader. Additionally, the topics raised within this
dissertation cover many uncharted waters, especially within a design context,
consequently the availability of such counterclaims is very limited and therefore a
somewhat philosophical approach is obligatory. The narrow scope of the primary
research may also be seen as drawback. Perhaps further primary research into
how designers feel about the enclosed information may improve the validity of
the argument as well as gather a wider understanding of how designers believe
they could utilise such discoveries within their specific area of expertise.
The benefits of this research could be that it might offer a unique
perspective of the issues faced by today’s world while concurrently offering a
specific and virtuous way to address these issues. It may additionally tender a
persuasive groundwork for other designers and activists to build upon as well as a
convincing argument for the redirection of their work towards a similar goal. A
goal that may have just the right mix of justified ambition to see if design really
can change the world, for good.

26
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Appendix 1

A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
Appendix 2

Question 1: What age bracket do you belong to?

Question 2: On a scale of 1 -10 please rate the importance of these discoveries:

Question 3: Before now were you familiar with this information?

Question 4: Do you feel enlightened by this information?

A7
Question 5: Do you feel inclined to share this information with your friends and
family?

Question 6: In the future do you think you will be more aware of the invisible
aspects of reality?

Question 7: Would you be interested in technology that could make the invisible
aspects of reality visible? These technologies could help you monitor and improve
your health/well-being.

Question 8: Do you think an active effort should be made to make the free
energy technologies available to everyone?

A8
Question 9: Do you think these technologies would benefit society as a whole?

Question 10: Will you be more open towards concepts of spirituality in the future?

If not, please explain what it would take for you to take these concepts more
seriously?

5466529 “proof”

5469354 “i am very open minded to anything new, but also believe that
goverments will not make it happen any time soon as replacing oil
would reduce there income dramaticaly.”

5475771 “Personal experience of the benifits, or some other form of proof”

A9

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