Take part in the possibly first-ever research survey aimed at investigating how psychedelic substances affect the design process

  • The purpose of the study is to investigate the influence of psychedelics on creativity in the design field by surveying designers about their psychedelic use and its impact on their creative process. It seeks to understand how psychedelics shape designers' mindsets, output, and problem-solving approaches.

  • You are invited to participate in this study because you are a person over the age of 18 who has used psychedelic substances at one point in your life.

  • If you agree to take part you will complete a survey anonymously. The survey will ask you questions about your personal experience and past use of psychedelic substances in the context of design and creative solutions, e.g.

    "How has your experience with psychedelics influenced your approach to design and creativity?" and "Have you noticed any specific shifts in your perspective or ideation process?". The survey will take you approximately 10 minutes to complete.

  • Participation is completely voluntary. You should only take part if you want to and choosing not to take part will not disadvantage you in any way. If you choose to take part you will be asked to provide your consent. To do this you will be asked to indicate that you have read and understand the information provided and that you consent to your data being used for the purposes explained.

    You are free to withdraw at any point during the completion of the survey, without having to give a reason by closing the window in your browser. Withdrawing from the study will not affect you in any way. Once you submit the survey, it will no longer be possible to withdraw from the study because the data will be fully anonymous. Please do not include any personally identifiable information in your responses.

  • The participation in this survey might involve being confronted with personal questions about your creative process. There is also a risk of disclosing illegal activity, such as substance intake. You will be provided with mental health resources and helplines before starting the survey, which you should feel free to contact at any point during the process of participating should it feel needed.

    You are also free to stop participating in the survey at any point by closing the window in your browser and not returning to the questionnaire after.

  • Participating in the world's first research survey on how psychedelics influence a designer's process and work offers a unique opportunity for personal reflection, community engagement, and professional development. By sharing your experiences, you contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field.

    If you wish you may provide your personal details independently from your anonymous survey data by signing up to our newsletter to hear about how to engage with a community of like-minded individuals through events and workshops.

  • The research study is anonymous. This means that nobody, including the researchers, will be aware of your identity, and that nobody will be able to connect you to the answers you provide, even indirectly. Your answers will nevertheless be treated confidentially and the information you provide will not allow you to be identified in any research outputs/publications. Your data will be held securely on a verified database and will be retained for analyses to be conducted.

    Any personal data collected independently of the anonymous survey as described elsewhere in this information sheet will be processed under the terms of UK data protection law (including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018). We currently do not use Google Analytics but Squarespace’s specific analytic tools; you can read about GDPR and Squarespace here.

  • This study is being funded by the researchers conducting the study.

  • The results of the project will be summarised in one or more published articles/books/etc. The study results may be shared with other research to advance and support progress in the field.

    You will be able to obtain a copy of the published research by opting into receiving further results at the end of the study, in a separate form which will in no way link back to the information you provide in the study at hand. The data itself will not be made publically available, only the summary of the data analysis and the results found.

  • If you have any questions or require more information about this project, please contact the researcher using the following contact details:

    Name: Alexandra Plesner

    Email: alex@psychedelics.design

I would like to invite you to participate in this research project which forms part of our specific psychedelic user research focusing on designers. Before deciding whether you want to participate, you need to understand why the research is being done and what your participation will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Ask me if there is anything unclear or if you would like more information.

The findings of this anonymous survey could inform future research and guidelines for the safe use of psychedelics in design, contributing to broader discussions on their role in creative processes and a shift to life-centred design.

Ultimately, the study aims to inspire a fresh perspective and deepen understanding of psychedelics' benefits and risks in design.

Invitation Paragraph

Study Details

Thank you for reading this information and for considering taking part in this design research.

Survey of Designer’s Psychedelic Use:

How Does Psychedelic Use Interact with Design-Specific Problem Solving, Creativity and Mindset?

Survey

Thank you for participating in our research. Your input is invaluable in advancing our understanding of this complex topic.

End of Survey

If you wish you may provide your details independently from your anonymous survey data by signing up below to receive an update on study outcomes, etc If you have any feedback on this survey or wish to share anything further with Psychedelics Design please do so here:

We understand that this survey may have covered sensitive subjects, including substance use and mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling with these issues and needs assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to the following helplines and organizations:

Your well-being is important to us, and we encourage you to seek support whenever needed. Thank you once again for your participation in our research.