DK writes a series on books clients recommend us, as well as other noteworthy pieces. It’s called In Search of Meaning.
Something I’ve just stumbled on during routine Internet surfing is this stuff about the psyche, the individual, and Carl Jung. I’m not an expert in this kind of thing, but I am fascinated by it.
Gleanings from this random site online:
Carl Jung points out that our society prepares its youth for the first half of life in terms of a proper education, but provides little for the middle-aged to prepare them for the second half of life (he notes that a key exception is religion for those who accept it)… The transition between these two phases is difficult for most people, and problems often occur during this ‘dangerous age.’ The tasks of the first half of life are external having largely to do with establishing a family and career. The tasks of the second half of life are internal having largely to do with finding meaning in our life and in our death [emphasis mine].
Jung calls the main task that we face during the second half of our life the individuation process [emphasis mine], an open-ended process of psychological maturity. More about this at http://www.schuelers.com/ChaosPsyche/part_1_27.htm
Aging well
The thing is, good things happen if we can age well. We’re more fit, more excited about life, more resilient, and happier. There’s certainly some things that come (or rather, go) as we get older, but this article goes on to talk about something called “pathological aging.” That means people can get depressed and have trouble sleeping, and part of the reason it happens could be a lack of meaning. “The absence of meaning in life plays a crucial role in the aetiology of neurosis” (Jaffè, 1984, p. 12).
What does all of this have to do with DK?
The thing that we give people in the process of our brand design that everyone tells us they appreciate most is this: a sense of self. A sense of what it means to do what it is you’re doing. That comes through conversations that get to the heart of what it is you’re about, what’s important to you, and the kinds of people you want to attract. It’s very personal stuff. That’s why it’s been hard to share all the details of our wonderful a-ha moments with clients who suddenly go, “Yeah! This is exactly who I am!”
Part marketing advice, part design solutions, but also part guidance towards self-realization—that’s what you get when you sign up with DK. We really do help people find their authentic voice. Authenticity comes from being real. From just being you, and being true about it. Really.
I know this sounds really hokey, by the way, but when the video “Say Hello to Design Kompany” is up here you’ll see people saying this in their own words. Which always, always makes it less hokey.
Stay tuned. Very soon.
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