Loss is the Glue That Binds Us Together

This post was originally published on July 10, 2020.

The pandemic reminds us that loss is inevitable and hard to talk about. Cole Imperi is set on changing that. As she sees it, loss is the glue the binds us together, giving us a unique opportunity to deeply, meaningfully connect with friends and strangers alike.

Using her term Shadowloss, this Thanatologist (someone who scientifically studies death and loss) brings light to the nuance of grieving, reframing any type of personal loss — of a dream job, a beloved pet, a childhood home — as an opportunity to connect. Loss unifies people through shared, impactful experience. It teaches us how to fold vulnerability into our relationships and the importance of not feeling alone.

Understanding Shadowloss challenges designers to question what our perception of normal is, especially in relation to grief: “What can I do where I am, with what I already have, right now?” Despite the loss, she wants you to find gifts in the journey, be present to the process, and don’t be afraid to talk about what is happening!

For more on Cole’s concept of Shadowloss, check out her full talk here. A special thanks to new DFA Friend Mal Mamo for hosting.

Next week, the DFA joins with MURAL for a crash course on remote collaborating. Learn best practices on how to use the whiteboard tool and dig into the design tool. Sign up here!