Possesed: A Case For Some Limited Hoarding

POSSESSED from Martin Hampton on Vimeo.


Possesed is a great short documentary on the subject of compulsive hoarding. This is really interesting in the context of design research. In many ways, I think we all express some hoarding characteristics. While the film presents some extreme examples, I would guess the spectrum of hoarding is pretty diverse. I would like to make the case that a little bit of hoarding is natural and good, and research like Posessed might help us understand that.

While the film focuses more on their desire for objects with their compulsive purchasing. I think equally important is an unspoken fear of empty space. It is not exactly that a person might love an object, as much as they are discomforted by the lack of objects. As much Horror Vacui, a fear of empty space, as a desire to fill it with particulars.

I would really love to work through this problem by experimenting with design. Many designers look to the values of Modernism... minimizing and embracing empty space, which is noble. However, perhaps many users desire clutter. When a design finds a way to embrace clutter I get really excited.

I wonder if a bedroom was inconsistently textured as opposed to painted a solid color, that might be a comforting kind of color. Or perhaps developing an organization system that slowly assists a compulsive hoarder control the system, through unique storage systems. I can even imagine an entire system of architecture made to address the disorder.