One could ponder the fine-drawn difference between vision and envisioning: the former imagines realities within our conscious minds, while the latter sees something as if it were true. Insight may not necessarily be synonymous with persons with sight, but is, for those with a vision. We may comprehend insight as an intangible vector, carrying magnitude and direction.

At the heart of creative aspiration, is a harboured vision acknowledging, exposing and placating the inequities of the able-bodied creative canon. Relatedly, creatives inherently harnessing insight and intuition as transformative tools can shape social and cultural landscapes that challenge, amend, or uplift.

This week’s issue looks at a unifying thread of creatives with visionary intellect: STIR revisits Chris Downey’s address at UIA 2023, an architect who has been on both sides of the ability to see; ‘Yasmeen Lari: Architecture for the Future’ follows her journey culminating as a humanitarian architect; Ukurant 3, a platform by young designers for young designers, encourages the vision of emerging ones; Outlanders Design envisions subverting stuffy agency processes with its fast, client-centric practice.

Possibly, we are restricted, not by our faculty of being able/unable to see, but by not fully cultivating insight.