Christen J.

Otter

D esign P h i l o s o p h y

“You might tell me that you know nothing about design. My response is this: Design is your
birthright. It is as much a basic human activity as breathing. The difference is you must use
design consciously to realize its full potential. I’m happy to guide people and organizations
through problems and pain, but when I can nurture joy, inspiration, and compassion. Then the
conversation shifts from surviving to thriving.”
-Lauralee Alben, Founder of Alben Design & The Sea Change Consortium

Good design should produce positive, transformative experiences in the life of the user.
A construct central to my Design Philosophy is that encountering healing experiences as a result
of interacting with design facilitates a new and fresh interpretation of reality.

Design must evoke an intuitive response from the user and interaction should not be a
reflection of mere requisite functionality, but instead the design should be a catalyst for a
seamless, pleasurable experience. The footwear company Cobian designed a style of flip-flop
which are exquisitely comfortable. I purchased a pair for myself, and as a direct result of
walking in them a new experience emerged for me as no longer did I have sore heels after a
lengthy walk, but instead felt refreshed and invigorated.

Design interaction should also produce an enriching experience for the human spirit as
well as the body. I design one-of-a-kind, semi-precious jewelry with original, poetic
accompaniment. A healing facet of my creative process involves inspiring confidence through
re-orienting the perception of self-image and worth. My designs are celebratory expressions
capturing the unique essence of the women that they were created for, and my objective is to
empower women with a revitalized sense of identity.

When we interact with a product that embodies good design, the product also acts as a
gateway to the intangible realm of inspiration. Being inspired motivates us and causes us to be
sharper—more engaged with the task at hand. As a writer, I often opt to use a certain coffee
carafe when immersed in a grueling project. The carafe’s fluidity of design and undulating,
hand-sculpted shape showcases a gorgeous shade of French blue, and the ritual of sipping my
coffee from such an aesthetically pleasing object engages my physical senses in such a way that
I feel energized and am able to tackle my project with clarity and precision.

Good design should not only employ a high caliber of ergonomic excellence and
functional efficience, but within the design should embody the potential to awaken the user to
a richer, more vibrant version of life than the one they had previously existed in.