A POST-HEDONIST MANIFESTO

The most wanted emotion is happiness, yet in the vehement search for pleasure, we have become strangers to true joy. Surrounded by the abundance of fleeting ecstasy and superficial satisfactions, we find ourselves looking for something perennial. The pursuit of instant gratification, so entrenched in our lives, has left us hollow and disconnected. Objects and experiences that used to be important and mean something are now empty and manufactured.
“Man, that inveterate dreamer, daily more discontent with his destiny”, has trouble assessing the pleasures he has been led to pursue, pleasures that his nonchalance has brought his way, or that he has indulged in through his own efforts, almost always through his own efforts, for he has agreed to chase after gratification.
VIEW THE SOBREMESA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

HEDONISM: ITS CONSEQUENCES IN SOCIETY TODAY

● Hedonism is defined as the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole good in life. As a philosophy it has been mainly under-explored, for various reasons, however it is silently one of the most prevalent in Western society and the global community.

● The rise of individualism, consumerism and postmodernism correlate positively with the widespread presence of hedonism today. Humans have increasingly become more isolated, apathetic and superficial.

● Over the past few decades we have seen these effects all around us:
    ○ Extreme individualism has promoted a lack of empathy, self-centeredness and harmed the sense of community.
    ○ Overindulgence has lead to choices that are detrimental to our health & wellbeing.
    ○ Hedonism has shifted the motivating factor to the accumulation of currency, leading to the pursuit of money being prioritized over that of passion and purpose.

HEDONISM: THE GOOD ASPECTS THAT SHOULD BE SELECTIVELY ADHERED TO

● Hedonism is defined as the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole good in life. As a philosophy it has been mainly under-explored, for various reasons, however it is silently one of the most prevalent in Western society and the global community.

● The rise of individualism, consumerism and postmodernism correlate positively with the widespread presence of hedonism today. Humans have increasingly become more isolated, apathetic and superficial.

● Over the past few decades we have seen these effects all around us:
    ○ Extreme individualism has promoted a lack of empathy, self-centeredness and harmed the sense of community.
    ○ Overindulgence has lead to choices that are detrimental to our health & wellbeing.
    ○ Hedonism has shifted the motivating factor to the accumulation of currency, leading to the pursuit of money being prioritized over that of passion and purpose.

BEYOND PLEASURE TO PURPOSE

● Hedonism is defined as the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole good in life. As a philosophy it has been mainly under-explored, for various reasons, however it is silently one of the most prevalent in Western society and the global community.

● The rise of individualism, consumerism and postmodernism correlate positively with the widespread presence of hedonism today. Humans have increasingly become more isolated, apathetic and superficial.

● Over the past few decades we have seen these effects all around us:
    ○ Extreme individualism has promoted a lack of empathy, self-centeredness and harmed the sense of community.
    ○ Overindulgence has lead to choices that are detrimental to our health & wellbeing.
    ○ Hedonism has shifted the motivating factor to the accumulation of currency, leading to the pursuit of money being prioritized over that of passion and purpose.
● Hedonism is defined as the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole good in life. As a philosophy it has been mainly under-explored, for various reasons, however it is silently one of the most prevalent in Western society and the global community.

● The rise of individualism, consumerism and postmodernism correlate positively with the widespread presence of hedonism today. Humans have increasingly become more isolated, apathetic and superficial.

● Over the past few decades we have seen these effects all around us:
    ○ Extreme individualism has promoted a lack of empathy, self-centeredness and harmed the sense of community.
    ○ Overindulgence has lead to choices that are detrimental to our health & wellbeing.
    ○ Hedonism has shifted the motivating factor to the accumulation of currency, leading to the pursuit of money being prioritized over that of passion and purpose.

THE NECESSITY OF BALANCE

At the foundation of the post-hedonist thought is BALANCE, the understanding that pleasure is important, but cannot be the only guide we use to navigate. The world does not suffer from too much pleasure, but from pleasure lacking principle. Seeking only joy, without context or significance, is to live superficially. Pleasure in its healthiest form should complement our deeper pursuits. When we look at pleasure with discernment, we are able to realize its means to blend with ethics, growth and long-term fulfillment. The balance of pleasure is not the abandonment of it but the advancement of it. 

THE VALUE OF DELAYED GRATIFICATION

At this point in our timeline, we have access to almost everything literally at our fingertips, which has created a culture obsessed with immediacy. And because of this we often reject the idea of waiting for joy. Most things can be done a lot quicker than we ever could before, people accumulate fame and wealth so much faster. When most things seem to be a click, stream, viral video or post away, we begin to fear slowness-associating it with failure, missed opportunity, or falling behind. It’s almost ingrained in us to equate speed with success, so we grow uneasy with anything that asks for patience, even when what’s growing needs time. Time itself now feels warped, a project taking four years now seems excessive, even wasteful, whereas once, years spent on a single painting, for example, was expected, even revered.
No wonder it feels like all hope is gone if you turn 25 and haven't accomplished everything and accumulated all the wealth our parents never had. Yet the argument is not based on taking time for the sake of it, it's about taking the necessary time and being patient when it’s not soon while putting in proper effort. In design, in art, in love, and in self-discovery, lasting value is rarely immediate. Choosing purpose over convenience fosters resilience. It allows us to move with clarity through discomfort, knowing that not every high is worth the cost of our time, attention, or integrity.

PURPOSE AS PROCESS, NOT ARRIVAL

Purpose is often imagined as a fixed point in the distance, something to discover, claim, and hold onto. But in truth, it rarely arrives all at once. It unfolds gradually, shaped by attention, revision, and movement. Purpose is a way of walking rather than being a singular destination. We reveal it through doing: through the projects we pursue, the risks we take, the questions we keep returning to. Sometimes it speaks clearly, other times contradictory but always evolves with us. 

With this understanding one reframes the entire journey. Rather than waiting for a moment of complete certainty, we begin where we are, with our current fascinations, what challenges our assumptions or piques our curiosity. Each figurative step turns into both an act of becoming and a reflection of where we’ve been. In this way, purpose becomes less about mastery and more about presence: showing up with intention, with honesty, and with a willingness to adjust. It’s not something we “arrive at,” but something we participate in-daily, imperfectly, and with care. 

DESIGNING INTENTIONALLY

We need to have a way to express our purpose and expression often comes in the form of art or design. Our work, whether in creative disciplines or personal projects, should be a mirror of our values. In a post-hedonist world, design must be more than decoration; it must be declaration. The identity of the maker should live within the creation. Purpose-driven design invites the viewer or user into a deeper relationship, one cultivated by meaning rather than trend. The goal is not just to be seen, but to be felt, to make work that resonates beyond its surface. In doing so, we take back the spirit of creativity from commercialism and RETURN IT TO TRUE AUTHENTICITY.

SUSTAINABLE HAPPINESS AND THE AWARENESS OF ADAPTATION

With the discussion of moving beyond pleasure, we must also discuss the nature of happiness itself. In both life and design, the pursuit of joy can be seductive. We’re taught to follow what feels good, to chase the spark, the new, the beautiful. But when left unchecked, that pursuit becomes habitual, reactive and often hollow. This is where hedonic adaptation quietly reshapes our emotional outlook. It is the tendency of the human mind to normalize change and adapt quickly to both pleasure and pain, resetting our emotional baseline. What excites us today becomes background noise tomorrow. Whether we’ve gained something we deeply wanted or experienced something we feared, our internal sense of well-being slowly readjusts. 

This adaptation isn’t inherently a bad thing. It’s part of what helps us endure change and recover from difficulty. But it also reveals why short bursts of pleasure; new things, achievements, validations often fail to create lasting contentment.
In a culture that honors constant stimulation and consumption, we risk becoming numb to our own experiences, mistaking novelty for meaning. The more we adapt to temporary highs, the more restless and detached we become. In design, we see this in our obsession with the “new” for its own sake: endless iterations, aesthetics that age quickly, trends that vanish as soon as they arrive.

SUSTAINABLE HAPPINESS AND THE AWARENESS OF ADAPTATION

With the discussion of moving beyond pleasure, we must also discuss the nature of happiness itself. In both life and design, the pursuit of joy can be seductive. We’re taught to follow what feels good, to chase the spark, the new, the beautiful. But when left unchecked, that pursuit becomes habitual, reactive and often hollow. This is where hedonic adaptation quietly reshapes our emotional outlook. It is the tendency of the human mind to normalize change and adapt quickly to both pleasure and pain, resetting our emotional baseline. What excites us today becomes background noise tomorrow. Whether we’ve gained something we deeply wanted or experienced something we feared, our internal sense of well-being slowly readjusts. 

This adaptation isn’t inherently a bad thing. It’s part of what helps us endure change and recover from difficulty. But it also reveals why short bursts of pleasure; new things, achievements, validations often fail to create lasting contentment.

DESIGNER NAOTO FUKASAWA ONCE SAID:
“The best designs are those that dissolve into behavior.”

That same principle applies to happiness. When joy becomes part of our flow, it gains stability. This logic doesn’t end with design; it carries into consumption. Just as we ask more of what we create, we must ask more of what we choose. Will this object or experience evolve with us, or fade with familiarity? Does it offer more than momentary bliss?
This adaptation isn’t inherently a bad thing. It’s part of what helps us endure change and recover from difficulty. But it also reveals why short bursts of pleasure; new things, achievements, validations often fail to create lasting contentment.
Design teaches us that beauty isn’t enough. It’s integrity, context, and emotional clarity that give something its life. The same is true of the things we bring into our own. Sustainable consumption mirrors sustainable happiness, it resists impulse and leans toward what lasts. By recognizing our tendency to adapt, we can begin to create and choose-not for novelty, but for continuity. For joy that doesn’t just dazzle, but endures.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-REALIZATION

Ultimately, none of this transformation is possible without self-realization. To live beyond pleasure is first to know oneself—INTIMATELY, HONESTLY, AND CONTINUOUSLY. The most powerful pleasures are the ones that align with our most heartfelt values, and we cannot access those values without introspection. We have to ask who we are, who we’re not, what matters to us, and what we hope to contribute.

Self-realization is the main principle that shapes our sense of purpose. It is what allows us to step off the “hamster wheel” of instant gratification and onto a path that, while more demanding, leads to a life of depth, connection, and integrity.

BEYOND PLEASURE TO PURPOSE

“Beyond Pleasure to Purpose” is not a judgmental statement to preach self-denial or tell people to give up all pleasure. It is a reminder that the best and most fulfilling joys are often just past the superficial ones. In moving from one to the other, we reclaim our lives as meaningful works in progress. This shift DOESN’T MEAN ABANDONING PLEASURE, it means transforming our relationship to it. We are still motivated by joy, still drawn to what moves us, but we begin to ask more of that feeling. We seek pleasure that is conscious, considered, and connected. One that isn’t just about momentary gratification, but about nourishment. When we fix pleasure in meaning, it becomes more sustainable. It aligns with who we are and what we care about. Our actions and the kind of joy they bring, benefit not only ourselves but the people around us.
And for designers, artists, and thinkers, it deepens the impact of what we create. Our work then resonates, uplifts, and contributes to culture in a way that lasts rather than just entertains or impresses. 

...

When we look at things in this way, pleasure and purpose are not at odds. They can be partners and when they are, we become more intentional with how we live, more present in our choices, and more aware of how our actions shape the world we live in.

IMPORTANCE OF INTERCONNECTEDNESS
 AND EMPATHY

● Where hedonism promotes individualism, post-hedonism recognizes the need for independence and self-love but advocates for communal bonds and the treatment of others with empathy as well.

● We encourage making decisions based on the pleasure it will bring but with the thought of others and how they will be affected.

● Treating every person as an end rather than a means, seems to be fundamental in most influential teachings. However, it is not evident in the way we interact with each other and the way institutions that are created for us treat people.

● Empathize with others whilst giving them a basic level of respect, even when it is inconvenient for you. Lead with kindness, and understand your reward is your peace of mind and spirit.
    ○ We do not advocate for naivety or being walked over but contempt or disrespect should not be the default for strangers.

● Conversation holds the power to convey so much between us and it is essential in most, if not all, interactions.
    ○ Enter conversations with an open mind, unprejudiced, to hear and understand each other.
    ○ Healthy discourse is an effective way to promote empathy and understanding.
       Sometimes the best way to understand is to talk through a disagreement.
    ○ Considering conversation is such a powerful tool, it can also be used to manipulate so it is important to be mindful and discerning in our interactions.

IMMERSION: CULTIVATING DEPTH

● In a place, industry or situation, one should immerse themselves in the culture, tradition and history. This increases your value of and respect for the place. In this awareness comes a deep and wide knowledge that enriches one’s life and work. This allows works and designs to be full of context and significance, steering clear from the lines of appropriation.

● Not only does immersion bring awareness to you, but your efforts translate to a feeling of respect and appreciation for the people.

● We follow a similar desire to explore design from the perspective of various art forms and industries by immersing ourselves in their creative processes, unique techniques, histories, and cultural contexts.

CONTINUOUS LEARNING

● Always be open to learning something new.

● Chase your curiosities, fall down rabbit holes.

● It is never too late or too out of reach to learn something new.

● We are met with educational opportunities everyday, let’s use them rather than being ignorant.

● Even if you are proficient in a topic, there is always more to understand!

● Filter your work through different disciplines from your own to gain further all around perspective. This allows for greater appreciation and advancement of your work.

CRITIQUE OF OVERCONSUMPTION

● Consumption, as defined by sociologist Alan Warde, is a multifaceted concept that encompasses the acquisition, use, and disposal of products and services, along with the cultural and social meanings attached to these practices, reflecting personal identity, social status, and cultural norms.

● In modern capitalist societies, consumer culture often markets products and experiences by appealing to individual tastes and the pursuit of personal pleasure. This marketing reinforces individualistic notions of self-expression and uniqueness, where personal choice in consumption becomes a form of self-identification and fulfillment.

● Commodification of art & design:
    ○ Products are being designed for the sole aim of profit.
    ○ There is a lack of innovation and originality with many works because of the dedication to trends.

● In this digital age, overconsumption has transcended physical goods and services.
    ○ The relentless pursuit of likes, shares, and followers drives a culture of perpetual engagement, where individuals are overwhelmed with a ceaseless stream of information, entertainment, and often superficial content.
    ○ As users consume curated glimpses into others’ lives that portray an idealized reality, they get a heightened sense of anxiety and dissatisfaction with their own.
    ○ The overconsumption of social media and the strong tether we have to our devices are mainly responsible for attention spans shrinking.
    ○ The algorithms behind these platforms prioritize instant gratification and continue to suggest similar content that creates an echo chamber, misrepresenting public opinions and thoughts. Social views and opinions now become led by the posts that garner the most attention, resulting in the masses to believe that said opinion is the general sentiment.
    ○ Public discourse is now led by the people with the largest megaphones and these are usually the most unqualified, trivial and uneducated, in the particular respect, people.

● We advocate for a radical reassessment of value:
    ○ Mindful consumption or moderation
    ○Rate of consumption
    ○ Reason for consuming

HARMONIOUS INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY & NATURE

● Technology and the “natural” way of things often seem like opposites and two different sides at war. We propose a harmonious integration.

● Instead of looking at AI art as opposition or a bastardization of art, recognize the opportunity and take advantage.

● Protect human artists to create a world where human creativity is still valued:
      ○ Market differentiation
      ○ Education & skill development
      ○ Support for artist communities

BUILDING TRUST

● Honesty, integrity, and reliability are the foundations of trust and must be held at the forefront of relations.

● Good design is no different, it must be honest, reliable, and hold integrity.

● Dishonesty with ourselves leaves one with a certain level of delusion.
    ○ We must know when we need to change our self-critique as well as change designs.
● Trust is the basis of all relationships:
    ○ It paves the path for decision making.
    ○ It allows for relaxation and guards to be let down.
    ○ Trust allows for one’s natural identity to come out and not feel judged, bringing the feeling of safety and comfortability.

      The inner child can be at peace and roam as it wishes.
● When there is trust then every other aspect can be built upon.

● You are in a relationship with design or whatever your field of practice is.

    ○ Design does not come in bad faith, what you put in comes out.

● You must build a level of trust in yourself and your abilities to carry it into your relationship with design.

THE DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM

● Many movements, including this one, are a direct response to a norm or previous climate. Though we are calling for a change, we see the need for balance between the ends of the metaphorical spectrum.
    ○ The dynamic balance between personal desires and communal well-being.
    ○ Balance between innovation and tradition.
    ○ Balance between interconnectedness and individualism.