How Psychedelics Spark Design Innovation
How psychedelics inspire out-of-the-box thinking to tackle design challenges, break through mental blocks, and uncover innovative solutions to complex problems.
I'm writing this post from Amsterdam, a city saturated in innovative design that balances aesthetic form with practical function.
Energy-efficient infrastructure, hundreds of interconnected canals, 35,000 kilometers of seamlessly integrated cycling paths, expanses of sustainable farmlands, sprawling urban greenspaces, a comprehensive garbage and recycling network that boasts 80% efficiency, and a massive network of dykes, dams, sluices, locks, and storm barriers that make up the Delta Works Project — one of the most sophisticated and effective flood control and water management systems the world has ever seen.
These innovations in design didn’t happen overnight. They’re the culmination of centuries of out-of-the-box thinking, willingness for experimentation, and a commitment towards eco-friendly design that enables humans to thrive harmoniously alongside the natural world — rather than exploiting it.
I'm not going to argue Dutch innovation was fuelled by psychedelic drugs (I'm not ruling it out either — their tolerance for psychedelic truffles is common knowledge at this point).
The point I'm getting to is that all this creativity and innovative spirit are more than just cultural heritage or necessity. Dutch design innovation was influenced by a broader, more open-minded perspective… a state we can emulate and amplify in our own work through the intentional use of psychedelic experiences.
Let’s explore the role psychedelics play in the creative design process and how these principles can be applied whether you’re designing cities like the Dutch, creating artwork like Alex Grey, designing couture like Iris van Herpen, or producing music experiences like Sphongle.
Psychedelics & Creativity
Psychedelics don’t provide us with access to knowledge we didn’t have before, and they don’t make us any smarter (despite what proponents of microdoses may have you believe).
What they can do is give us new angles from which to view our creative challenges. From this new perspective we stand a greater chance of finding new creative solutions we couldn’t see before.
Psychedelics are excellent idea-generators because they increase the entropy (AKA randomness) of our thought processes. Memories, bodies of knowledge, and random bits of inspiration normally isolated from eachother are permitted to mix and merge together. The more random combinations of these thoughts and ideas our brain can generate, the more likely we are to come up with new ideas.
But you can’t just take psychedelics and wait for that inspiration to present itself. Creativity is not an isolated event — but a continuous, evolving process that takes time and effort. You can’t force it, and there’s no specific amount of time or effort needed to unlock that next innovation or great idea you’re searching for.
In fact, I would even argue that the harder you seek creativity, the less likely you are to find it. True innovation of ideas happens spontaneously.
Fortunately, there are ways we can nurture this process and increase the chances of experiencing those elusive “aha!” moments more often.
Psychedelics can be used to catalyze this process. Their ability to induce higher randomness in the brain subsequently stimulates divergent thought modes — which in turn encourage a freer, more associative style of idea generation.
These ideas can be recorded and later fleshed out while back at your desk in a sober state of mind (convergent thinking).
I cover the theory behind all of this in more detail in my post on How Psychedelics Help Navigate Mental Blocks.
Psychedelic Design Principles
Psychedelics can be a boon for unlocking creative solutions to just about any problem — so most of the time, this source of inspiration goes unnoticed.
However, there are also plenty of more obvious signs of psychedelic inspiration in various design fields.
Alexandra Plesner from Psychedelic Design suggests 4 key psychedelic design principles.
These principles are relevant because they provide a framework for understanding how the altered states of consciousness induced by psychedelics can influence and enhance the creative process.
By examining these principles, we can see how psychedelics contribute to innovative and impactful designs that resonate on multiple levels. This includes everything from personal experiences (like the creation of art and music) to broader societal and environmental contexts (like the sustainable and efficient infrastructure of Amsterdam).
Here are the four principles put forward by Alexandra:
1. Mind Expansion
Designs that dissolve the barriers between one’s self and their surroundings.
An example of this is the TeamLab Borderless in Tokyo, Japan, a digital art museum that creates immersive environments where the boundaries between the viewer and the artwork dissolve.
2. Intuitive Connection
Designing in a way that taps into subconscious elements of human instinct and emotions. These designs feel natural for us to interact and explore without applying effort.
An example of this is the design of Apple products. Steve Jobs credited his use of LSD with helping to shape Apple’s design ethos, which focuses on intuitive and user-friendly interfaces that connect with the users’ needs and emotions.
3. Interconnectedness
Creating designs that reflect the unity of all things — often promoting values like sustainability and community.
The Eden Project in Cornwall, UK, is a good example of this principle. This construction consists of large biomes housing various plant species. It's designed to demonstrate the interconnectedness of global ecosystems and promote environmental sustainability.
4. Transformation & Growth
Using design to facilitate or inspire change.
An example of this is The Waterwheel by Warka Water. This passive structure harvests drinking water from the atmosphere. The innovative design of the Waterwheel aims to improve access to clean water and support sustainable living in remote and resource-limited communities.
Other Real-World Examples of Psychedelic-Inspired Design
Here’s a selection of real-world examples that follow these psychedelic design principles — some are explicitly inspired by the use of psychedelics (as stated by their creator); others may or may not have direct influence from psychedelics but follow similar principles common in psychedelic design.
Architecture
Friedensreich Hundertwasser — His work in architecture with undulating floors and non-rectilinear shapes reflects a distinct departure from conventional design, resonating with the non-linear thinking prompted by psychedelic experiences.
Antoni Gaudí — While not explicitly influenced by psychedelics, Gaudí's work often carries a psychedelic quality due to its organic forms, intricate details, and vibrant use of colors. His masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, features complex textures and shapes that create a dream-like, surreal experience for visitors.
Paolo Soleri — Soleri's architectural philosophy, termed "Arcology" (architecture + ecology), proposed massive structures designed to minimize ecological impact while maximizing social interaction. His experimental town, Arcosanti in Arizona, though more functional than psychedelic, contains elements like organic forms and complex, multi-use structures that are reminiscent of psychedelic visuals.
Bruce Goff — An American architect whose designs were heavily influenced by organic forms and unconventional materials. His buildings, such as the Bavinger House, incorporate dynamic, spiral designs and use materials like glass cullet and gold balls, creating otherworldly and visually complex structures that could be seen as psychedelic.
Futuro Houses — Designed by Matti Suuronen in the late 1960s, these prefabricated fiberglass houses resemble flying saucers and were originally intended as ski cabins. Their unusual, futuristic design and bright colors make them an icon of psychedelic and space-age design.
Marko Pogacnik — This Slovenian artist and holistic architect has created numerous "Lithopuncture" projects across Europe, which involve placing stone sculptures in specific landscapes to harmonize the earth's energies. His work, while not visually psychedelic, is inspired by esoteric and spiritual concepts often explored in psychedelic experiences.
Art
Alex Grey — Famous for his highly detailed paintings that explore the anatomy of the body and the cosmic nature of consciousness, often inspired by his own experiences with psychedelics.
Android Jones — Jones combines technology and art to create immersive experiences and has been involved in various visual design projects for concerts and virtual reality.
Storm Thorgerson — Known for creating iconic album covers for Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and others, many of which include surreal, dream-like imagery reflective of psychedelic experiences.
Victor Moscoso — Known for his neon-colored posters for rock concerts in San Francisco, Moscoso's work is iconic for its vivid colors and dynamic, swirling styles, which perfectly encapsulated the spirit of the late '60s psychedelic scene.
Wes Wilson — Considered one of the leading designers of psychedelic posters, Wilson's work is characterized by flowing, curvilinear lettering and shapes, often creating images hidden within images. He designed posters for bands like the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane.
Music
The Shpongletron Experience — A live performance set created by Zebbler (multimedia artist) and Simon Posford (musician) designed to integrate elements of psychedelic visuals with the theme of the music for a more immersive experience.
Marshmallow Laser Feast — This exhibition applies various forms of technology to create sensory illusions that evoke the feeling of being under the effects of psychedelics.
Fashion Design
Iris van Herpen — While not directly stating psychedelic influence, her designs often reflect the fluidity and form-changing qualities that can be associated with psychedelic experiences.
Kenzo Takada — Takada’s designs were known for their bold prints and vivid colors. His collections often featured experimental and unexpected combinations that resemble the psychedelic experience.
Further Reading
Getting Unstuck: How Psychedelics Can Help Navigate Mental Blocks
Awakened States: Exploring The Harmony Between Psychedelics & Meditation
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