What does good design mean to you? Is it a visual treat and nothing else? Does it inspire your creative work? Does it make you feel good on a deeper level? 

Inspired by an Architectural Digest article on what designers and architects can learn from Japan's mindfulness tradition, we did a little dive into the innate connection between good design and overall wellness. Before we convince you, think of your own experience. When you spend time in a beautiful space, or interact with an expertly-crafted object - how does it make you feel? How does it inspire your behavior?

Designers of all kinds are inspired by mindfulness and overall wellness to create their best work. As Architectural Digest states, "The thoughtful, deliberate attitude associated with more mindful work bleeds into design, craft and lifestyle." 

This year, one of the keynote speakers at the Global Wellness Summit is Clodagh, a pioneering wellness designer and creator of "life-enhacing minimalism." Clodagh believes that good design supports well-being and that it can transform people's lives. She explains that "wellness is a holistic pursuit and the spaces where we dwell, work, eat and shop all contribute to creating a lifetime of overall wellbeing... I want to make people feel good by creating spaces that imbue both visual and emotional hugs."

In Japan, mindfulness is essential to the design process but also to lifestyle. Amy Meier, a California-based interior designer observes, "The Japanese focus on mindfulness, quiet beauty, and intentional design that resonates with people right now ... it is no fad or passing trend, certainly not in Japan, where it has been a hallmark of the culture for centuries. Rather, it is a way of thinking, living, and creating that makes a lot of sense, that removes a lot of peripheral noise and nonsense and allows one to truly be present in their own life and experiences."

With this in mind, be aware of the essential connections between beautiful design and wellness, mindfulness and creation. If you surround yourself with beauty, how will you impact your overall wellbeing? If you can approach each day and your creative process with mindfulness, what beautiful things will you manifest?

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