During a morning reading,
I found myself captivated by a passage in a book written by a friend:
“Beyond all grasp—
neither rising nor falling,
neither expectation nor disappointment.”

The unknown emerges, after exhaustive contemplation, as another realm of possibility. Quietly, almost imperceptibly, it exists beyond the boundaries of my imagination. Standing at the edge of this unknown crater, where innumerable possibilities are bound to innumerable uncertainties, confusion is eventually surpassed by a sense of joy. Perhaps it is this elusive mystery of what is yet to come that constitutes the most profound beauty of life!

In design, it is this beauty of the unknown that draws us in. The unknown transforms design into an act of creation. Its intangible nature renders it irreplaceable. What remains beyond our control is the latent energy within us—like a mass of lava on the verge of eruption. Design is a manifestation of artistic force. By embracing art, we dissolve the pressures imposed by technology and fleeting trends. In a certain sense, technology itself becomes a mirror through which design introspects. What may be replaced by AI is the hollowed-out prosperity that ought to be eliminated from the industry.

The core of design education rests on two pillars: design history and design philosophy. When technique is elevated as the central focus of education, it risks constraining the development of creativity. It also leaves individuals vulnerable to the pressures of every technological shift. Only by experiencing the beauty of the unknown can one truly achieve the freedom inherent in design.

DSa26 invites you to encounter a sharper and radical unknown.

Morning of April 4, Hangzhou
Jumping He