Finding Your Purpose in Design

Understanding Ikigai through Biophilic Design

As a designer, whether you’re an interior designer, architect, or landscaper, your work goes beyond creating visually appealing spaces. It’s about crafting environments that resonate deeply with those who inhabit them, fostering well-being, and connecting people with the essence of who they are. At Habitarmonia, we believe that the concept of Ikigai—a Japanese term meaning “a reason for being”—is a powerful tool that can guide you in achieving this. By aligning your personal purpose with your design principles, you can create spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also profoundly meaningful.

Understanding Ikigai in Design

Ikigai is a Japanese philosophy that represents the intersection of four key elements: what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. It’s a holistic concept that guides individuals to find their true purpose in life. In design, Ikigai helps you discover that sweet spot where your passion, skills, and the needs of your clients converge, allowing you to create work that is both fulfilling and impactful.

Breaking Down Ikigai:

What You Love (Passion): Reflect on the aspects of design that ignite your creativity and bring you joy. Is it the process of integrating natural elements into your work? Or perhaps it’s the satisfaction of creating spaces that bring peace and well-being to others?
What You’re Good At (Vocation): Identify the skills and talents you excel in. Are you particularly skilled at blending aesthetics with functionality? Do you have a knack for understanding spatial relationships and how they impact human behavior?
What the World Needs (Mission): Consider how your work can address broader societal needs. In what ways can your designs contribute to environmental sustainability, enhance well-being, or promote a deeper connection to nature?
What You Can Be Paid For (Profession): Think about the market demand for your services. Are clients seeking designers who specialize in eco-friendly designs, wellness-oriented spaces, or innovative, sustainable solutions?

When these four elements overlap, you find your Ikigai—the purpose that drives your work and gives it deeper meaning. For designers, this might mean creating spaces that not only look beautiful but also serve a greater purpose, such as promoting mental well-being, fostering community, or supporting sustainability.

Practical Applications of Ikigai in Design

Ikigai is not just a philosophical concept; it’s a practical framework that can guide your design process. Here are some ways you can apply Ikigai to your design practice:

Integrate What You Love into Your Projects: If you’re passionate about nature, for example, consider how you can incorporate natural elements into your designs. This could mean using organic materials, designing with natural light, or creating indoor-outdoor connections that bring the outside in. By focusing on what you love, your designs will reflect your passion and inspire those who experience them.
Leverage Your Strengths: Identify the skills that set you apart as a designer and find ways to showcase them in your work. If you excel at creating calming environments, prioritize projects that allow you to apply this skill. This could involve designing wellness centers, tranquil gardens, or serene home interiors that promote relaxation and mindfulness.
Address Global and Local Needs: Use your design practice to address pressing societal issues. For instance, if sustainability is important to you, focus on creating energy-efficient buildings, using recycled materials, or designing landscapes that support biodiversity. By aligning your work with what the world needs, you’ll create spaces that have a positive impact on both people and the planet.
Create a Sustainable Business Model: Ensure that your Ikigai aligns with market demand. If there’s a growing interest in eco-friendly and wellness-focused design, position yourself as an expert in these areas. Offer services that meet these needs, and you’ll not only fulfill your purpose but also build a thriving design business.

Case Study: Ikigai in Action

To illustrate how Ikigai can be applied in design, let’s look at the case of a designer who used this philosophy to guide a residential and landscape project. This designer, after reflecting on their own Ikigai, realized that their true passion lay in creating spaces that promote mental and emotional well-being. They were particularly interested in how natural elements and sustainable materials could be used to foster a sense of calm and tranquility, both indoors and outdoors.

For this project, the client was a young professional struggling with anxiety and seeking a home environment, including the surrounding landscape, that would provide peace and rejuvenation. Understanding the client’s needs deeply resonated with the designer’s personal purpose. They decided to incorporate Biophilic Design principles, using natural light, organic materials, and calming color palettes both inside the home and in the garden to create a sanctuary that aligned with both their Ikigai and the client’s desires.

The designer chose to use materials like bamboo and reclaimed wood, which not only aligned with their commitment to sustainability but also brought warmth and a sense of nature into the home and the surrounding outdoor spaces. They maximized the use of natural light by installing large windows and strategically placing mirrors to reflect sunlight throughout the interiors, while also designing the landscape to complement the indoor environment with greenery that was visible from within the house. The color palette was carefully selected to include soft, muted tones that promote relaxation and reduce stress.

The result was a home and garden that not only met the client’s needs but also reflected the designer’s own values and purpose. The client reported feeling more at ease and connected to both the indoor and outdoor spaces, and the designer found immense fulfillment in knowing that their work had a positive impact on the client’s well-being.

Expanding the Ikigai Concept Across Different Design Disciplines

The power of Ikigai isn’t limited to interior design—it can be applied across various design disciplines, from architecture to landscape design, and beyond. Here’s how different types of designers can apply Ikigai to their work:

Architects: Consider how your designs can create buildings that not only serve their functional purpose but also enhance the well-being of their occupants. For example, you might focus on creating sustainable, energy-efficient buildings that reduce environmental impact while providing a comfortable living or working environment.
Landscapers: Reflect on how your passion for nature and your skills in landscape design can be used to create outdoor spaces that promote relaxation, community interaction, and environmental sustainability. You might focus on designing gardens that support local ecosystems, reduce water usage, or provide spaces for meditation and mindfulness.
Urban Planners: Think about how you can design urban environments that meet the needs of diverse populations, promote social equity, and enhance the quality of life for city dwellers. This might involve creating green spaces in urban areas, designing walkable neighborhoods, or developing sustainable transportation systems.

The Power of Aligning Purpose with Design

The concept of Ikigai is a powerful tool that can transform your approach to design. By aligning your personal purpose with your professional practice, you create spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also deeply meaningful and impactful. This alignment leads to more fulfilling work, happier clients, and ultimately, a more successful design practice.

At Habitarmonia, we emphasize the importance of finding your Ikigai as part of our Biophilic and Wellbeing Design course. By helping you explore your personal purpose and how it intersects with your design practice, we equip you with the tools to create spaces that truly resonate with your clients and enhance their lives.

Join Us for a Webinar to Learn More

If you’re ready to discover your Ikigai and learn how to apply it in your design practice, we invite you to join our upcoming webinar. In this session, we’ll delve into how our 12-week course on Biophilic and Wellbeing Design can help you align your purpose with your work, creating spaces that don’t just look good—they feel right.