i tell you that to let no day pass without discussing goodness and all the other subjects about which you hear me talking and examining myself and others is really the very best thing that a man can do, and that life without this examination is not worth living.
these words are especially relevant in today's post-industrial world of shifting discourses, pluralism, and uncertainty. the modernist search for universal theories to illuminate private choices seems impoverished and ineffective. socrates wanted shared choices to culminate in a life of private theory. such a life requires more than the creation of a set of intuitive beliefs and tacit understandings. they must be made explicit in order to bring them through the forge of critical discussion. this can lead to more rigorous ideas and principles which, in turn, can provide a firmer foundation for subsequent actions. this connection between the quality of an idea and the quality of action is the underlying premise of this effort.
the credo or position statements that underlie my current professional activities are investigated here. this reflection begins with an investigation on the position of design itself, as it forms the foundations for my academic activities of teaching, research, and service, as outlined below.
presently, i teach in the interior design option of the department of design and environmental analysis in the college of human ecology. i offer courseware in visual, computer, and ecological literacy, all emphasizing critical participatory approaches to design education. the idea that "education is a conversation" forms the starting point for my position on education.
i am developing my research interests in design as it relates to the natural environment. i am combining theoretical work in environmental ethics and aesthetics with my practical knowledge of renewable materials/processes to evaluate existing products and to create new prototypes. this combination of intellectual, creative, and practical inquiries forms the basis of my position on research.
finally, i view design as a strategy for action. i try to apply my design expertise in means towards positive change whenever possible. i believe designers need to good citizens, engaged with their various communities. i try to demonstrate this attitude in a number of ways through my service towards my institution and my local community. the connections between aesthetics and ethics create the firmament for my ideology regarding service.