New Design Ideas

ISSN Print: 2522-4875

ISSN Online: 2524-2148

The Journal New Design Ideas is a peer-reviewed, open-access on-line & print journal devoted to publishing research papers in all fields of design, including industrial design, visual communication design, interface design, animation and game design, architectural design, urban design, and other design related fields. It aims to provide an international forum for the exchange of ideas and findings from researchers across different cultures. We aim to be a channel for the knowledge exchange between academia and industry by identifing the results are of interest or applicable to practical design.

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The Monomyth in Design: Bridging Storytelling and Design

Published: 02-12-2025

https://doi.org/10.62476/ndi.93746

Abstract

This paper examines the transformative narratives undertaken by designers and the intersection of the hero's journey with the design process. Inspired by Joseph Campbell's monomyth, the study parallels the stages of the hero's journey with design methodologies. A total of sixty-three physical products from the compilation “100 Great Designs of Modern Times”, published by Fortune magazine in 2019, were analyzed using Python-based language analytics. These products were evaluated based on adaptability, social or environmental impact, user-friendliness, commercial success and the potential to redefine their categories. The analysis highlights the importance of storytelling in design. A comparative assessment based on the monomyth framework highlights the design narratives featured in Fortune and the associated creation stories, illustrating the essential role of storytelling in the evolution of design. The comparative study highlights the role of storytelling in this context, portraying designers as heroes who confront challenges, return with wisdom and shape products through narrative. This work accentuates the transformative power of storytelling in design, bridging the domains of myth and contemporary practice. It promotes a reflective consideration of storytelling's contribution to successful design, amalgamating myth and narrative to forge a compelling discourse. This study elucidates the symbiotic relationship between storytelling and design, revealing the profound connection among myth, narrative and innovation, while fostering a deeper reflection on the influence of storytelling in design. Consequently, the mythology surrounding designers, akin to traditional myths, mirrors monomythic patterns and situates the designer as the archetypal protagonist of this narrative, whether consciously recognized or not. When the designer's endeavor to convey a message through their products intersects with success stories and storytelling, myths emerge as distinctive resources from which significant insights can be gleaned.