Re-imagining our Tools
The 20th century American educator, John Culkin, wrote “We shape our tools and, thereafter, our tools shape us.” The tools we use and the ways we use them transform our behaviors on an individual level, and our cultures on a larger scale. However, most of our tools are designed by others with standards that may not align with our bodies or needs. As we use these tools and they form our habits, I formed the question:
How can we reimagine our tools to intentionally and consciously form desirable habits?
Survey Design
By starting with a simple open-ended prompt, I wanted participants to easily answer the questions with the first thing that comes to mind. The survey covers questions that challenges the participant’s
A total of 23 participants between the ages of 22 and 45 completed the surveys, answering each question with a drawing and an explanation of their reasoning. It was interesting to see patterns forming with each of the surveys, which I mapped out in the analysis of the project. Most of the participants beside a few focused on utilitarian and practical hand-held tools, such as a pencil. This allowed me to understand the perception and limitations of the word ‘tool’ itself.
Research Analysis
Once the surveys were complete, I interviewed each participant and discussed their thought processes and reasoning behind their decisions. I observed many similarities in their results and thinking. I categorized the findings into groups to better understand the common aspects. In terms of habits, it would require further research that would be done during the course of some time in order to understand which new habits could be formed using some of the new tools that were developed through this survey.
Key Insights:
Over 60% of the participants chose to draw hand-held tools such as a pen or pencil. It was possible this was the first tool to think of at the moment, since they were using a pen or pencil to fill out the form.
In imagining the tool merged with the body, the tools were most commonly merged with the hand or the arm
Only 1 out of 21 participants used a non-physical object as a tool: dreams
In imagining the tool for a 4 or 90yr old, many participants modified their tool to become larger
