Hear from our Global Learners

Thank you Heart of Design team and Peter Gould for creating this beautiful space. I'm grateful to have been part of the July 2023 program, and one of my main takeaways from this life-changing experience is to reframe my mindset to do transformative work instead of it being transactional as a designer.

The curriculum was so holistic, delving into how the spiritual, creative, practical, and community spheres are connected, and how we can develop them in harmony to approach design challenges. Through the weekly assignments, I practiced how to let go of perfectionism, and instead focus on beginning and iterating. As a “dreamer” who wants to be a “doer,” this course pushed me to simply start my ideas - through elevating my questions and purpose, using design tools like the Heart-Centred Canvas, and cultivating a community of like-hearted people to share with and learn from.

I just want to let you know that just after this short time in the course I start to see the seeds of a life-changing path, some early internal prototypes. I want to thank you for putting this course together. The material is more than amazing. May Allah reward you.

I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Heart of Design program offered by the Gould Studio in January 2023. As a health sector worker, I have been on a journey of recovery from burnout in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The course, with its heart-centred approach, provided me with a beautiful path by which to explore creativity and spiritual grounding.

I have been following Peter Gould's work for some time through the people who have worked with him and have always been drawn to understand how to design with an intention. I am glad to take part in the Heart of Design program as it opened my eyes to understanding how design is integrated through an Islamic lens and can bring value to what we believe in and be of service to the people and planet around us. As the name of the course implies, everything has to be evaluated from the heart foremost.

Overall, I really enjoyed the course, I would highly recommend it, especially for people who have some sort of idea percolating on the back burner and they're trying to figure out how to push it forward. I think the course will give lots of ideas and it will also bring you into a wonderful, vibrant community of light hearted individuals who are also there to be your cheerleaders and supporters.

An amazing masterclass masha'Allah! This course is the missing piece of the puzzle that connects our purpose of life, and the path Allah wants us to follow with our professional and practical daily routine and decisions. With his sincere and humble approach, Peter Gould shares his successful experiences and clarifies the lenses through which we view the existing practical and professional world around us. In his 'Heart of Design' program, he speaks and teaches with 'heart', promotes 'heart-centered' principles, and connects 'like-hearted' people whom I'm grateful to have known throughout this course. It was an honor and a blessing to have been part of this experience. Thank you Gould Studio team for the wonderful journey!

This was a great course. I listened to each episode like a podcast (didn't have time to watch!) and it worked really well. I enjoyed not being pressured to do anything. I found the frameworks really valuable. The strangest thing is that I feel like the course brought me closer to Islam than any Imam has done over the past few years. Truly a growth moment for me

This was truly a transformative program for me as I learned how spiritually can be integrated seamlessly into any design process. I can say it was a missing piece in my professional puzzle. Peter shared with us beneficial tools and reflections to create our own journey, and I really appreciate how I was able to connect with other like-hearted Muslims.

Peter’s emphasis on monitoring intention and practicing presence is an element that particularly resonated with me. Some salient and valuable aspects of his personality include his sustained “childhood spirit” exemplified in his sense of wonder and enthusiasm, and his appetite for continuous improvement to reach excellence; both requiring a great deal of humility. I am grateful he took time to put together his expertise to spread the “Design with Heart” seeds in the wider community’s fertile land. I ask Allah to accept, bless, and fructify all his endeavours, and to grant him genuine success in both worlds!

One thing I really loved and appreciated about the program was how everyone was encouraged to take it at their own pace and that the resources will be available for you later down the track whenever you ready. While attending the classes, it evoked lots of moments of reflections on my personal values and my goals I have for the future. I would definitely recommend the Heart of Design to anyone who is ready and open to learn a new way of thinking, new way of design thinking in particular, but also someone who may need to stop and reflect on where they are and where they want to be like me.

I came out on the other side of the course with clarity of purpose and a clearer mindset. I have learned so much to implement in my approach to my work as a lawyer and also in any other endeavours be they for profit or not. Ultimately, the course has given me key principles to bring greater value to any project: sincerity, intentionality, craftmanship, gratitude, service and blessings. Peter’s classes also included many snippets of wisdom taken from classic and contemporary thinkers which put the key principles into a wider context and serve as reminders of how to get the best out of yourself to create the best work.

I recently completed The Heart of Design by Peter Gould, which offered a unique opportunity for personal and professional growth at the intersection of #design, #entrepreneurship and #spirituality. Taking us on an inspiring five-week journey, Peter outlined how a designer’s mindset, when “heart-centered”, can help professional’s align their spiritual aspirations with meaningful and enriching work. Thank you Peter for building, leading, and presenting such a creative and inspiring course. I wish Gould Studio all the best with its creative projects, and hope to attend similar courses with you in the future.

The past few weeks have changed how I feel about the road ahead, alhamdulillah, despite not knowing what the future holds. If you’re just embarking on your journey as a creative or entrepreneur, or are a seasoned professional, I highly recommend this course. One of the many takeaways from the course is the importance of keeping company with souls who have an open, optimistic, creative and heart-centered mindset as well as thinking of success in a long-term capacity. The past few weeks have changed how I feel about the road ahead, alhamdulillah, despite not knowing what the future holds.