Can good design make the world a better place?

 

No matter what I’ve done, or where I’ve done it, I find myself fully engaged in the exploration of the relationship between faith and creativity.

These two threads have been running consistently throughout my entire life; this isn’t a new idea for me, but a recognition of my journey so far.

There are some incredible consequences when you embrace the power of art and the impact of the divine. My work is inspired by the conviction that God is a designer, and creativity can power positive change in the world.

 

The beginning of the most famous creation poem from the book of Genesis reads: 

In the beginning
God made

The fifth word in the original Hebrew ברא (bara) translates to English as ‘make’ or ‘create’, but the fullest meaning is to bring forth or to birth.

This is an action only the divine is capable of, because it is the original creation where nothing existed before. To acknowledge that God made something out of nothing is a truly profound claim, and this belief has a number of serious consequences. In particular…

everything is spiritual

Everything is filled with potential and purpose. The very act of creating is participating in the original divine movement.

Later on in the same Hebrew text, we see the word עשת (asah) also means to make or create, but to do so with pre-existing materials.

This is profoundly helpful for my understanding of creativity.

Because on one hand my actions are simply to create (asah) out of existing materials. For example: Brands are born out of the ideas which exist within others, and I assist by giving them life in a visual, tangible respect.

And on the other hand, my simple act of re-creation is also an inspired action, made possible because of the original act of powerful and majestic creation (bara).

 

We are closest to God when we
CreatE

 

What does this mean?

Faith helps me make sense of the world I see around me: A world filled with goodness, a world designed, a world full of possibility. But at the same time it helps me make sense of the chaos, the hurt and the injustice which is so obvious and tangible.

Faith explains my desire to preserve and protect this planet. Rather than seeing this place as an accident, or a resource there for the taking, this is actually our home which needs caring for (see Genesis 1:27).

Finally, faith provides the lens through which I view people. We are wonderful, walking contradictions of glory and shame, of divinity and dust, capable of greatness and culpable of evil.

Ultimately, we are all innately valuable: there are no ordinary people.*

*C. S. Lewis: The Weight of Glory

The ברא (bara)

manifesto:

I am a creator:

and I will use my powers for good.

Design can help save the world:

I will actively support causes, brands and ideas which make the world a better place.

There are no ordinary people:

I will treat colleagues and clients with their God-given value and respect.

This planet is my home:

I will follow my divine commission to care for the earth through my physical processes.

 

Yours, Matt.

 
 

[ The artwork on this page was created using the experimental Midjourney AI bot, not a human artist. Artificial intelligence art is a form of digital art that is generated or manipulated using AI algorithms. Please note that the Bara Studio Limited does not claim ownership of the artwork and it is used for educational or informational purposes only. ]


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