On one hand, design functions as a vehicle where society’s latent stuff manages to be projected and therefore visible, to have forms. In this direction, as described by Jorge Luis Borges, we are not afraid because we dream about Monsters, we dream about Monsters because we are afraid (Borges, 1999).
From the figure of the monster we can understand the need of designing images as the action of designing monsters on the part of that fear’s interpreter, and the need of recognizing in that monster the fear on the part of the spectator. This happens in a communion where that drawn image articulates what has been imagined by the one who talks about the image and who perceives this spectral apparition of what used not have any form.
Therefore, such magic possibility that lies in this act of drawing or projecting images can establish a place where one person’s fear can submerge. Furthermore, a place where the personal fear can be integrated with other people’s fear, creating a shelter to share their monsters and therefore, not feel alone.
On the other hand, designers can also do something bad: they can create or awake a monster where there was just happiness. And all this is achieved through design; first of all, by virtue of the lie in which we all believe when we see things as covered with sense; where the designed object -the monster- will keep on living in his solitary stillness, while for the rest there will remain a possible presence. But maybe, one does not fall under the influence of that image, of that monster drawn by someone else because our reason finds other causes to account for the existence of our fears.
However, even if that image failed in dominating our consciences, it could have helped us to clarify our standpoints, our fears, humbly contributing to reconsider our reading on the subject matter, since one of the ways through which philosophy can circulate is design. The logic that articulates the created image makes the reflection arise from our being. Here, this act of selection would have questioned or reinforced the way we saw our identity by forcing us to explain our positions.
© Sebastian Guerrini, 2009
