Digital Animism

This thesis purposes to evoke the new meaning of animism in designing everyday objects, and find out what we could benefit from considering animism as an object theory. It first discussed and examined this theory by constructing a knowledge system of animism, including the literature researches of animism as a religious belief and animism interpreted in design. Then a preliminary set of implications and critical points were derived from theories and products that frame a digital animistic object. A design project aimed at smartphone addiction was followed as exploratory research in which the knowledge had been applied through the reflective practice of sketching. The design possibilities of animism in the real environment were explored and it presented the idea that animism provides a treatment option with future digital products in our complex social environment. This helps generate insights and conclusions about the idea of animism in design and its potential directions for future research.