Finding Beauty in Imperfection APPLYING ‘WABI-SABI’ TO SPACE DESIGN

For anyone related to the field of design or any brand marketing agency, the subjectivity of the field is not a topic that is undiscussed. Although design has a strong base of strategy and logic, conversion of any strategy into aesthetics that suit an enterprise does involve contrasting opinions.

Space design, Space Branding are known to be fields that require a large team with distinct expertise. While working on such projects, difference in opinions is inevitable. Using the ancient Japanese concept of ‘Wabi-Sabi’ has proved effective for both management and aesthetics in such situations.

What is Wabi-Sabi?

Wabi-Sabi is an ancient Japanese concept that advices people to accept and appreciate the beauty in transience and imperfection. Wabi – Sabi is a composite of 2 terms Wabi and Sabi, Wabi means Austere, Subdued Beauty and Sabi means Rustic beauty.

It accepts the lack of knowledge and urges inquisitive thinking and curiosity. By disregarding the concept of ‘perfection’, Wabi-Sabi allows us go further and explore possibilities that might seem imperfect which helps foster creativity.

How is Wabi-Sabi relevant to Space Design?

We have seen and read about the use of Wabi-Sabi in Japanese literature, architecture, art and design. Many of the principles can also be used to create distinctive spatial designs for brands.

Methodology

Wabi-Sabi, by overlooking the concept of perfection allows the exploration and research in the areas that seem less than perfect in the early stages of any projects. The exploration and the gaining information or knowledge and translating that knowledge into aesthetic is what is recommended especially for creative design agencies.

Management

Much like Design, the concept of Wabi-Sabi is also known to be subjective. The teachings of wabi-sabi eliminate the concept of ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ as the perfection that one expects doesn’t exist. This helps keep an open mind to ideas that seem unconventional or different in the start. Allowing exploration that seem a little offbeat may lead to an unexpected, innovative solution and reflect in the growth of individual employees as well as the brand design agency.

Aesthetics

Wabi-Sabi believes in designs inspired from Nature. Wabi-Sabi defies the modernity that forces us to create perfectly flat, symmetrical, edged designs that aid mass production. It encourages organic forms and shapes that allow craftsmanship to bloom. It also allows the design agency to use regional handicrafts and artifacts.

How Interics Designs follows Wabi Sabi?

Knowingly or unknowingly, Interics Designs has been following and promoting the use of Wabi-Sabi in many ways.

Through Methodology

Interics Designs has developed a unique methodology, fine-tuned over years of extensive experience in space design.The methodology suggests that any project that we take on, must start with thorough research and exploration. Any topic, any idea must be explored.

Each level of the methodology prompts us to explore various options in the theme, designs, layouts, stories, shapes, forms, languages, material.

Through Refurbishing

We urge our clients to allow us to accommodate the use of antiquities that we refurbish and install that create a unique value in the space. We also encourage them to reuse as many old products as the space and theme permits.

Wabi- Sabi celebrates the transience and imperfection, hence the use of these artifacts resonates with the principle.

Sustainability and Aesthetics

The use of natural and sustainable material is one of the most important features of the wabi-sabi design aesthetic. Also, the use of non-geometric organic forms in the aesthetic that is visually more natural is recommended.

We try our best to use sustainable and natural material for installations and combine it with supreme aesthetics. We use forms other than geometric shapes and create a language that is unique to each brand that we work for.

Conclusion

The use of antiquities, Sustainable Material; Creating a unique, previously unused language; following a research-oriented methodology allows Interics to create aesthetic and logical designs that are unique.

Connect with Interics INSpaces for all international exhibition stall design, spatial branding, experience center and corporate office branding needs. INSpaces is a specialized vertical of Interics Designs - a full-service creative design agency in India, Branding agency, digital branding agency and Brand design agency- with over 3 decades of rich experience in Brand Strategy, Brand Image Building, Graphic Design, and Environment Branding.