Intentionally Designing the Blank Canvas: Creating Spaces for Real User Needs
As someone who graduates from architecture school, I was trained to believe that every line mattered. “You can’t build it if you can’t draw it,” my professors would say. Precision was everything — blueprints were safeguards against failure. But this mindset had its cost. I became obsessed with perfection, unsettled whenever the real world didn’t align with my plans. Any deviation felt like failure.
But my perspective shifted when I discovered participatory design. In college, I was introduced to this approach, which addressed many of the challenges I had observed. Participatory design allowed me to step back from trying to predict every need and instead invited real users into the design process.
Instead of “fortune-telling” how people should use a designed product, I began focusing on creating a framework they could interpret and adapt in ways that suited them best.
This approach led me to develop the concept of the “Blank Canvas” in the back of my head while designing. When faced with a design problem, I began to see it as an opportunity to create a flexible framework — a blank canvas — that gives space for user needs and allows them to participate in or evolve the design itself. By intentionally leaving room for adaptation, this method acknowledges that users often have needs or preferences that designers can’t fully anticipate. It empowered them to shape their environments and experiences in ways that truly worked for them.
Case Study: Banceuy Riverside Mix-used Building
In my architecture final project, I tried to applied this concept to a community living along the Banceuy River in Bandung. Years of unplanned housing had turned the riverside into a neglected space — pollution, flooding, and traffic congestion were the results.
I proposed a shift in perspective: what if the riverbank was seen as an inviting “front yard” instead of a dumping ground? By designing spaces that left room for interpretation, the community could integrate nature into their homes rather than building against it.
Flexible pathways supported informal economic activities, while open green spaces allowed residents to shape their surroundings based on evolving needs. This wasn’t just about fixing the river; it was about creating possibilities.
Professional Work: Designing for Adaptability
I carried the Blank Canvas mindset into my professional work in product and service design, where flexibility often empowers users to create personal and authentic experiences.
At Fithub, a gym offering premium quality at a midrange price, we introduced a simple yet impactful feature: Buddy Finder Stickers. These stickers let members signal whether they wanted to socialize or work out alone, giving them more control over their experience. The result? A 6% decrease in members skipping the gym for an entire month. This small, intentional design tweak showed how thoughtful choices could make spaces more inviting and adaptable.
At Kargo Technologies, a logistics platform, I tackled the challenges of rigid pricing systems. Transporting goods across Indonesia’s islands meant navigating countless variables. Instead of enforcing a one-size-fits-all model, I introduced a more flexible pricing framework to accommodate diverse stakeholder needs. Although I left before seeing the full impact, the approach demonstrated the potential to transform traditional business dynamics.
Current Work: Empowering Family Caregivers
Today, at Noora Health, I work as a service designer applying the Blank Canvas principles to caregiving education. Parents and families attending our sessions come with unique needs, shaped by their own experiences. A rigid, prescriptive approach would fail them.
To address this, we designed a flexible learning experience. Using tools like flipcharts with tabbed pages, healthcare workers can navigate topics fluidly, tailoring sessions to each family’s needs. This approach ensures that caregivers engage with the material on their terms, making the learning relevant and personal.
By intentionally designing for flexibility, we created sessions that empower families to focus on what they need most — turning a prescriptive class into a collaborative space for growth.
Embrace the Blank Canvas
To my fellow designers: don’t be fortune-tellers. Don’t try to predict every outcome or solve every problem upfront. Instead, design with intention and flexibility. Give your users the freedom to shape the spaces, products, and services they truly need — not just the ones you envision.
A thoughtfully designed “Blank Canvas” doesn’t stagnate. It grows, evolves, and adapts — because it belongs to the people who use it.
When we embrace the Blank Canvas, we don’t just design solutions. We design possibilities.
