One day mulla was invited to take a class for art and design
students. On that day before even introducing himself, he asked the students
find out how many manmade things they can remove or exclude from their body
without making changes on their body.
Students listed their dress, shoe, socks, inner wares,
jewellery, accessories, and gadgets.
Next, he asked them to find out what all manmade things on their body are enhancing
their body structure.
Students made the above list again
Next, he asked them to find out what all manmade things on their
body are supplementing their body structure
Once again the answers were the same
Next, he asked them to find out what all manmade things on
their body is substituting their body structure
They repeated the answers again
Next, he asked them to find out what all manmade things are
so important on their body so much so that the body cannot exist without them.
Students remain silent for a moment then they told “ well it
is contextual, right? For seasons, dress
is important, for Personal hygiene, inner wears are important, for public order,
occasions and social gathering dress and, accessories are important, for a sense of joy, communication and
information gadgets are important and well …the arguments can go on and on…”
Mulla smiled at them and told,
“So friends, thank you for teaching me and each other that design
is not about complementing, substituting, replacing or removing things from a structure to enhance the abilities or aesthetics of the
form or address its needs but the design is a contextual decision
taking consideration of all of the above or some of them…”
Some students agreed some confused and some remained in
disagreement.
Mulla walked out of the class before the students can raise
any question. Students remained agitated and some started a discussion, some
remained passive and some others remained thoughtful.
