Magnus Walker, with long hair, a beard, and a hat, appears excited while seated in a white sports car marked with the number '77,' speeding on a winding road.

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Designed Life Challenge day 6

Designed Life Challenge, Day 6

Intuitive Design – Trusting Your Instincts

Writing prompts:

Think about walking through your favorite store. What sections naturally pull you in? What are you instinctively drawn to touch or examine closer?

Have you ever walked into a space and had an immediate reaction? What exactly drew your attention first? What was your gut feeling?

Recall a time when you ignored your design intuition and followed someone else’s advice instead. What happened? What did you learn?

Vault:

Go with your gut feeling

How to stop overthinking and start trusting your gut

Instinct Shapes Creativity

Intuitive design is about trusting your gut feeling when crafting spaces or making creative decisions. It bridges personal experiences with professional expertise, creating designs that resonate deeply.

The Pull of Instinct

As a designer, I find myself instinctively drawn to DIY stores. The hand tools, power drills, and even simple screws have a magnetic pull. There’s something satisfying about exploring objects that enable creation. This attraction mirrors my design approach: functional yet personal. Intuition often leads me to solutions that are practical but also speak to the core of a project.

A man in a red vest and gray beanie, wearing glasses, examines a blue handheld tool, likely a drill, in a hardware store.

Memories and Reactions related to Spaces

Walking into my father’s workshop as a child left an indelible impression. The cavernous space, the industrial machinery, and even the diesel-laden air told a story of purpose. Similarly, my first visit to an Orthodox church evoked a mix of awe and contrast. The stark difference between its grand exterior and the dark, intimate interior was profound. These experiences taught me that instinct isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about the feelings spaces evoke.

Grand cathedral interior with intricate frescoes, a large chandelier, and a mosaic-patterned floor, blending Byzantine and Eastern Orthodox styles.

Balancing Design Intuition with Collaboration

As a designer, collaboration often challenges intuition. Clients bring their ideas, preferences, and sometimes last-minute changes. While incorporating these requests can disrupt the original concept, they also test adaptability. The most rewarding projects are those where my initial instinct aligns with the client’s vision, creating cohesive spaces that feel natural and effortless.

Reflection

Intuition is a guiding force in design, often shaping decisions more profoundly than rules or trends. Day 6’s challenge reminded me of the power of trusting my instincts, whether it’s the sections I’m drawn to in a store or the immediate reactions I feel in a new space. Intuition, combined with experience, creates designs that resonate on a deeper level. While challenges arise, such as balancing client preferences with my vision, these moments are opportunities to refine my approach. Ultimately, the most rewarding projects are those where instinct and collaboration align seamlessly.

Curious about how personal rules shape creativity? Reflect on your design instincts with Day 5’s Challenge and uncover how they influence your spaces. Don’t forget to revisit Day 4‘s insights for even more inspiration!

Missed Challenge Day 3? Discover how colors from childhood and personal memories influence design choices and how they can inspire your next project. Read Day 3 here!

Ready to bring serenity into your space? Dive into Day 2 of my design challenge, where I did explore how nature’s beauty can influence your home with calming textures and harmonious elements.

Curious about more design inspiration? Don’t miss Day 1 of my design challenge, where I dive into the fundamentals of creating spaces that truly reflect your personal style.