Insight meditation and its relationship to graphic design

Abstract

<p>Vipassana or Insight Meditation is a simple and logical technique that can be accepted and applied by people of any background. It is a practical way to examine the reality of one's own body and mind, to uncover and solve problems, to develop unused potential, and to channel it for one's own good and the good of others. The practice of Insight Meditation in daily activities assists the practitioner to gain insight into the truth of himself. It assists him to observe and understand the conditions of his emotions, feelings, and thoughts. Insight Meditation practice also increases the practitioner's concentration, awareness, and mindfulness on the activity that he is doing and directs the practitioner to see good quality in people and in himself. The practitioner opens his mind and sees things without judgment, preconception, anger, or blame. As a result, the practitioner develops unused potential and direct a productive work and life. Various types of meditation practices and techniques are used effectively in the field of art. Some of them are used to provide a way for the artists to connect with their inner creativity and create a fresh, spontaneous, and innovative artwork. While others are used to create the certain state of mind for the artist to create the directness in his creative work. In Graphic Design, there is no specific identification of how meditation can be used. It may even be another alternative way for designers to create productive design work. Therefore, the objective of this thesis is to investigate the relationship between Insight Meditation and Graphic Design from the belief that both practices can be performed together and the connection of them will increase the potential benefits from meditation practice to Graphic Design. The investigation of the connection between Insight Meditation and Graphic Design is concluded in seven chapters in this thesis. Chapter 1, Introduction, provides a brief overview of Insight Meditation and the objective of the thesis. Chapter 2, Vipassana or Insight Meditation, summarizes the study of the background, the practice, and the process of Insight Meditation. The study of Insight Meditation in daily activities is also included in this chapter. Chapter 3, The Design Process, is the discussion of Mark Oldach's design process for graphic designers. The discussion covers the design process from preparing the clients to processing the finished design piece. Chapter 4, Meditation in Art, summarizes how other meditation practices and techniques are used in the field of art. The study of meditative activities is also included in this chapter. Chapter 5, The Connection of Insight Meditation and Graphic Design, is the discussion of how Insight Meditation practice can be used in the Graphic Design process. This chapter not only includes a comparison between Insight Meditation practice and the design process of Mark Oldach, but also the connection of Insight Meditation to designers, the process of getting ideas and growing ideas, and the editing and evaluating process. Chapter 6, The Exercise, includes the purpose and the process of the exercise conducted to test the selected part of the connection between Insight Meditation and Graphic Design. This chapter also contains the analysis of the result and the conclusion of the exercise. Chapter 7, Conclusion, is the conclusion of this thesis.</p>