Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story About Design and Innovation?

When I was 18 I saw a one-man play telling the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

Years passed and even though I did not even recall the story line, whenever someone would ask me about an amazing play or movie I had seen, I would refer to this event. I remembered how engaged I was, how for the entire duration of the play, you could have heard a needle drop, so mesmerized was the crowd.

Then someone recently asked me about the story again. Once more, I could not actually recall what it was about. Sure, I knew it was the story of a seagull who just did not fit in and aspired to other things from the rest of the flock, but in what way or how, that I had lost. I decided to go back to the book.

I was astounded to come to the realization after all these years, that my fascination had mostly been with the character and how it related to my own struggles and aspirations. Johnathan was a designer, and innovator, not just some seagull.

Jonathan wasn’t content with the mundane existence he was supposed to have, he wanted more than just flying to get to food to survive.

Here was a character that could not live accepting the way things were supposed to be, the way he was supposed to be or live with the limitations that were put upon him by society. He wanted more, for himself and his species.

I know many say the story is about religion, and the greater divine, but I do not see it like that. Jonathan is about the creative struggle to push the boundaries of what we know is possible, to strive for more on every level — for ourselves, the world and everyone around us.

If I apply the meaning of this book to my daily life, it reminds me to always question the status quo and to never take “no” or “we can’t” for an answer. It reminds me what my responsibilities as a designer and a creative human are.

You can call it cheesy or simple, but to me, it is a perfect analogy to fuel and inspire the design and innovation mindset.

Do you think your wings are too broad? Do you feel like you do not have the right stuff or information to make a change and push ahead?

Most often we just see everything that is wrong and what cannot be done. It is easy to just give in and believe in what we are told or do what is said should be done. We could just accept that and exert no effort.

Except we can’t, because such is not the designer’s nature. We cannot help but Investigate and examine the world’s and life’s nuances from every angle and perspective.

If our wings are too broad, we fold them up, modify, perfect and by doing so, change us and the world around us, one flight at a time.