RESEARCH: Brainworxx

CAPACITY: Did you know that explores the capacity of flexing our creativity. Our minds can enter a state of flow. From our 'In-the- round' discussions we have noticed a unified response that the act of creativity takes over, boosts our mental state and slows our heart rate. We have organically found a significant connection and immersive result for people who suffer from depression or anxiety or have a Bipolar diagnosis. Creative capacity includes the blocked or stuck mind common to Designers and Artists. [WATER GLASS IMAGE]
NATURE: BRAINWORXX takes a look at the inclusion of nature in design. The discovery and theories date back to the beginning of recorded history. A growing scientific field called ecotherapy has shown a strong connection between time spent in nature and reduced stress. In December of 2020, founder Leslie Ann Pilling was one of the story-tellers at the Belle Isle Conservancy program which showcased health and nature. Her focus was on the Detroit River and water in general as a healing power of nature. [TREE IMAGE] More on Ecotherapy can be found HERE.
SOUND: BRIANWORXX explores Sound Design and the effects on brain wellness. Sound spurs powerful reactions from jarring loud noise which stops you dead in your tracks to jovial laughter which brings a smile to your face.History is rich with tribal traditions of drums uniting tribes in ceremony, or songs that bring communities together in celebration. In the past MM-O-DD facilitated a program, Sound Design in Museums for the Michigan Museum Association. [SOUND WAVE IMAGE]
SPACE: BRIANWORXX examines the design of a space, with special attention to color. There are significant links to both which impacts brain health. [WATERMARK DEEP COLORS IMAGE]

BREATH BY DESIGN PROJECT

Breathwork Taps Tech and The Creative Zone

Statement of Purpose

The Breath by Design Project is an innovative research initiative spearheaded by the Metropolitan Museum of Design Detroit (MM-O-DD), the only design-focused museum in Detroit and the United States' sole UNESCO City of Design. This project, rooted in MM-O-DD’s BRAINWORXX pillar, seeks to explore the intersection of design, holistic well-being, and breathwork practices. The primary goal is to investigate the effects of breath awareness and mindfulness techniques on individuals’ productivity, emotional resilience, and overall health, with a specific focus on mitigating the impact of “Tech Apnea.” This phenomenon, characterized by shallow or paused breathing during screen use, mirrors the symptoms of sleep apnea and has significant implications for mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

Research Objectives

Understand the Prevalence and Impact of Tech Apnea: Identify patterns of Tech Apnea among participants, particularly within creative and business communities.
Evaluate Breathwork’s Effectiveness: Measure the benefits of breathwork techniques, such as the cyclic sigh, in reducing stress, improving focus, and enhancing overall well-being.
Develop Practical Interventions: Create actionable strategies to retrain breathing patterns during screen use and incorporate these into daily life and workplace practices.
Promote Community Knowledge: Share findings with Detroit’s diverse communities and the broader public to foster awareness and implement solutions.

Research Methods

The Breath by Design Project employs both quantitative and qualitative research methods, integrating data from primary and secondary sources to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject.

Quantitative Methods:

Surveys and Questionnaires: Participants will complete pre- and post-intervention surveys to measure baseline stress levels, productivity, and awareness of breathing habits.
Biometric Monitoring: Track participants’ breathing patterns, heart rate variability, and other physiological markers during various activities, including screen use.
Performance Metrics: Evaluate changes in focus, productivity, and task completion times.

Qualitative Methods:

Interviews: Conduct in-depth interviews at three key phases over a 12-month period to capture personal experiences, challenges, and progress.
Workshops and Discussions: Facilitate breathwork sessions, both in-person and virtually, to observe group dynamics and gather qualitative feedback.
Case Studies: Develop detailed profiles of participants, including those from the same workplace and those unfamiliar with one another, to explore the effects of group dynamics.

Participant Groups

Control Group: Individuals who will not undergo breathwork training to provide a baseline for comparison.
Experimental Groups: Participants will be divided into the following categories:
- Groups from the same workplace who regularly collaborate.
- Groups of individuals who are unfamiliar with each other.

Participation will occur both in-person and virtually to accommodate different preferences and logistical needs.

Research Phases

Phase 1 (January 2025 - December 2025): Recruitment and baseline data collection, including initial surveys, biometric monitoring, and interviews.
Phase 2 (January 2026 - December 2026): Implementation of breathwork interventions, including workshops, training sessions, and individual practices.
Phase 3 (January 2027 - December 2027): Follow-up interviews, final surveys, and analysis of long-term effects of breathwork.

Measurable Outcomes

Reduction in Tech Apnea Symptoms: Measured through biometric data and self-reported experiences.
Improved Well-being: Evaluated through surveys tracking stress, focus, creativity, and emotional resilience.
Community Impact: Increased awareness and adoption of breathwork practices among Detroit’s diverse communities.
Documentation and Knowledge Sharing: Comprehensive reports and presentations to share findings with the public, including practical guides and educational materials.

Timeline

The Breath by Design Project follows a five-year trajectory:

2025: Recruitment, baseline data collection, and pilot workshops.
2026: Full implementation of interventions.
2027: Analysis of long-term outcomes through follow-up studies.
2028-2030: Dissemination of findings and development of community resources.

Conclusion

The Breath by Design Project exemplifies MM-O-DD’s commitment to connecting design, wellness, and community. By addressing Tech Apnea and promoting the transformative power of breathwork, this research initiative aims to enhance productivity, emotional health, and overall well-being within Detroit and beyond. Through a rigorous and inclusive research approach, MM-O-DD seeks to empower individuals and foster a healthier, more mindful society.

Office of Research and Integrity

Federally funded research that uses human subjects must be reviewed and approved by an independent committee called an Institutional Review Board or IRB. The IRB provides an opportunity and place for individuals with different backgrounds to discuss and make judgments about the acceptability of projects, based on criteria set out in the Common Rule.

Under the Common Rule, IRBs must have at least five members and include at least one scientist, one non-scientist, and “one member who is without conflict or otherwise affiliated with the institution and who is not part of the immediate family of a person who is affiliated with the institution”. IRBs have authority to approve, require modification of (in order to secure approval), and disapprove all research activities covered by the Common Rule. They also are responsible for conducting continuing review of research at least once per year and for ensuring that proposed changes in approved research are without initiated without IRB review and approval, except when necessary to eliminate apparent immediate hazards to the subject.

IRBs weigh many factors before approving proposals. Their main concern is to determine whether:

risks to subjects are minimized;
risks to subjects are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits, if any, to subjects, and the importance of the knowledge that may reasonably be expected to result;
selection of subjects is equitable;
informed consent will be sought from each prospective subject or the subject’s legally authorized representative;
informed consent will be appropriately documented;
when appropriate, the research plan makes adequate provision for monitoring the data collected to ensure the safety of subjects; and
when appropriate, there are adequate provisions to protect the privacy of subjects and to maintain the confidentiality of data.

Researchers should consider each of these issues before completing their research plan and submitting it to an IRB for approval.

Making decisions about whether human subjects will be treated fairly and appropriately or given adequate information requires judgments about right and wrong (moral judgments). In the 1979 Belmont Report, the National Commission recommended three principles for making these judgments:

respect for persons and their right to make decisions for and about themselves without undue influence or coercion from someone else (the researcher in most cases);
beneficence or the obligation to maximize benefits and reduce risks to the subject; and
justice or the obligation to distribute benefits and risks equally without prejudice to particular individuals or groups, such as the mentally disadvantaged or members of a particular race or gender.

While this list does not exhaust the principles that can be used for judging the ethics of human subjects research, it has nonetheless been accepted as a common standard for most IRB deliberations. Knowing this, researchers should spend time considering whether their work does provide adequate respect for persons, appropriately balances risks and benefits, and is just.