Designer’s Toolkit #1 - Feng Shui

Not just for living rooms. Not just for vibes.

You’ve probably heard someone say, “This space needs better feng shui.” What they usually mean is: “Something feels off.”

But feng shui isn’t just about vibes or furniture. It’s about how people move through space, how energy flows, and how design shapes unconscious and conscious behaviors.

Whether you’re designing a product, a room, a webpage, or a workflow — feng shui has something to teach you.

What Is Feng Shui?

Feng shui (風水) literally means "wind and water." It’s a Chinese philosophy that sees everything as connected by qi (energy). The way you place objects, structure space, or block paths can either invite flow or create friction.

In practice, it’s about orientation, balance, natural forces, and human intuition. Think of it as the original user experience design 4,000 years before Figma.

5 Key Concepts Designers Can Steal from Feng Shui:

1. Flow > Function

You can technically “use” a product or room, but does it feel good to use? Feng shui reminds us that fluidity and experience matter just as much as utility.

Ask: Does my user’s movement make sense? Is there an unnecessary turn, scroll, or detour?

2. Entrance = Energy

Where someone enters your design is where they start forming impressions. Feng shui focuses intensely on doorways and thresholds.

Ask: Where does your experience “begin”? What do people see, feel, or understand in the first 3 seconds?

3. Clutter Blocks Qi

Clutter isn’t just physical, but visual, cognitive, and emotional. Too many buttons, too much copy, too many steps = design constipation.

Ask: What can I remove to make this breathe? Is there whitespace (or “emptiness”) doing work?

4. Everything Has a Place

In feng shui, nothing is random. Every object’s position intentionally creates harmony or guides action.

Ask: Is this element pulling its weight? Does its position add meaning?

5. Design for Humans, Not Blueprints

Feng shui sees people not as static users, but as moving, feeling, reactive creatures. So should we.

Ask: How does this design respond to the person using it right now?

Monkey Brain Takeaway:

Feng shui isn’t mystical, it’s good design with empathy and intention baked in. It reminds us that design isn’t just how things look, but also how they move, feel, and interact with the world around them.

Next time something feels “off,” don’t just debug it — walk through it like a human. Chances are, feng shui already knows what’s wrong.

Tags:

Interior Design • Product Design • UX/UI • Architecture • Systems Design • Experience Design