Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic spaces has led to a spatial collapse. It may feel like all is lost, but Tricia argues that if we look back to previous moments in history of spatial collapses, we learn that they always produce new ways of thinking that would’ve never been possible before. In each moment, entirely new culture is created. New systems, economies, and tools are born out of the disruption caused by spatial collapse. Pain and creativity are well known bedfellows. Tricia argues that if we want to design services, products, and policies that truly respond to people’s needs, we need to learn how to identify emergent culture. We need to learn how to not rely on outdated data sets. We need to abandon business as usual to thrive in this rapid time of change.
Key Insights
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Spatial collapse refers to the merging of our first (home), second (work), and third (community) spaces due to the pandemic.
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Historical examples of spatial collapse show that they often lead to the emergence of new cultures.
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Designers must be aware of perspective collisions, which arise when the intended use of a space doesn't align with how people actually use it.
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COVID has radically transformed our perception of time and space, requiring new frameworks in design and work.
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Community resilience plays a key role during crises, often stepping in where formal systems fail.
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Thick data, or qualitative insights, are essential for understanding current societal dynamics compared to relying solely on quantitative analytics.
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Communities are looking for new ways to mark time and space in their lives amidst the pandemic.
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Rethinking how we design our interactions can prevent future perspective collisions.
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The pandemic will likely lead to a redistribution of work, with employees seeking new living arrangements in smaller cities that facilitate better work-life balance.
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Active participation in community efforts rather than imposing new solutions is crucial for designers.
Notable Quotes
"This mess is kind of like how all the spaces are mixed up together."
"We are experiencing a spatial collapse, which is a disruption of our mental models of how we navigate spaces."
"COVID has caused a total collapse of space, and we are all in the middle of experiencing this collapse."
"We're all supposed to be together in San Francisco, but here we are, hanging out in our own homes."
"Every day feels like we're figuring out new hacks and generating new problems."
"When we look at this mess, it brings to life how COVID-19 has disrupted our lives."
"Emergent culture arises every time there's a spatial collapse throughout history."
"We have to treat identities as elastic; they don’t fit neatly into categories."
"New forms of design will emerge from the pandemic's unique challenges and insights."
"Asking questions is the beginning of everything; never be afraid to make necessary trouble."
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