LCD Weekly Issue - 005 - Follow me outside!
Let’s go outside
🏔️ Words from the mountains
Outside has always been my happy place. Being born and raised in Costa Rica makes you automatically an outdoorsy person. The tropical weather, the early sunrises all year, the mountains, the beaches, the rainforests, and the jungles make it the perfect place to connect with nature from birth. Ten years ago, I wanted to leave nature behind and immerse myself in city life (I guess this is what you do in your early 20s). The never-ending sounds, the swarms of people walking up and down, the buildings, museums, restaurants, nightlife... Oh, Barcelona, you were fun.
But, a year into my city life experience, I started noticing a new feeling. I could feel it in my chest, close to my heart. Whenever I saw a (sad) tree in the middle of the city, I had to look at it, touch it, as if I had to acknowledge its existence in our vast cement paradise. The city made me feel claustrophobic; crossing hundreds of people in La Rambla to get to class felt like a real-life video game, avoiding bumping into tourists or people zombified on their phones. Unconsciously, I started swapping city plans for hiking or other outdoor adventures. Spending the whole day outside in nature made me feel like I was returning home to my heart.
Nature is peace, inspiration, fun, adventure, clarity, presence, health... If nature is so incredible, why do we disconnect so easily? This is an intriguing subject, which has me researching from time to time. Today, I am sharing two articles. The first is about How Modern Life Became Disconnected from Nature. Pelin and Selin Kesebir had this question: "How can we define and measure all the various ways in which people connect with nature?" Instead of counting how many sunsets you see or how many walks you do, they opted for a very interesting and cultural path. "If novelists, songwriters, or filmmakers have fewer encounters with nature these days than before, or if these encounters make less of an impression on them, or if they don't expect their audiences to respond to it, nature should feature less frequently in their works." The results are clear: The shrinking of nature in our collective imagination and cultural conversation.
The last second article is: Do something more than touch grass. It's all about how industrial society has alienated us from time and reality and how to reclaim it. "Reality is cyclical: the sun rises and sets, the seasons change, and we change and develop too. To be grounded in "objective time" is to be present and attentive to the changes and cycles that exist in the natural world, including ourselves."
Worth the read :)
🐅 LCD in the Wild - 1000 Hours Outside
1000 Hours Outside is a global movement designed for any age, child (or adult), and any environment. The idea is to spend 1000 hours outside annually, aiming 20 hours a week.
"The average child spends 4-7 hours a day on screens but only gets 4-7 minutes of unstructured free play outside each day."
Children and their unique sensibility towards the world need nature; they need to explore, get dirty, and have fun! And so do we. What would change in your life if you spent more time outside? Life-Centered Design is all about (re) connecting with nature and your environment. 1000 hours outside is a great incentive to start.
Are you up for the challenge? You can download a tracker here or on their mobile app and start your outside journey!
🪄 Inspiration- MEUTE
Why not add some musical inspiration around here? This year, I discovered this magnificent techno marching band! MEUTE.
"MEUTE detaches electronic music from the DJ desk and evolves the thrust of energy on stage or directly in the crowd. Be it on the streets or in the club, with or without electricity – MEUTE runs!"
The fact that they "disconnected" from the traditional DJ electronic desks and created a techno marching band playing even better music is epic! Listen to them and dance on!
If you wonder why this relates to LCD, think about returning to the roots, connecting with your hands, and challenging the norm.
🔥 Hot in the school- Course and Free Webinar!
🐝 Enrollment Open!
Our Fundamentals Course, Shifting from Human-Centered to Life-Centered Design is open for enrollment. Spots are filling up quickly!
For the first time, we are opening another group!
This new group is for those living in different time zones who couldn't join the course at the original times. So, if you're located in Singapore, the Philippines, Sydney, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Japan, or any other similar time zone, this might interest you!
Naming a few time zones for reference, every Friday for 6 weeks, starting from March 15:
Singapore: 4:00 pm-6:30 pm
Sydney: 7:00 pm-9:30 pm
New Delhi: 1:30 pm-3:00 pm
This fundamentals course is your gateway to becoming a proficient Life-Centered Designer. Here, you'll acquire the essential tools, methodology, and perspective required for the journey. Explore how to address pressing climate and societal issues while integrating biological ecosystems, non-human personas, and non-user communities into your design approach.
The moment to take action is now! Enroll today!
🦊 Free Webinar: Give Natrue A Voice
Have you ever wondered how to include nature in your design practice? Or even how do you give it a voice? Join us in exploring the transformative realm of life-centered Design and Non-human personas.
Don't miss this opportunity to reshape your design practice and contribute to a more sustainable future. Sign up here.
👋 Until next Monday!
Marce
