Verbal

Client

Elisava, Master Thesis

Year

2024

Christianity's Decline in the West

Design Challenge

Context: This thesis explores the declining influence of Christianity in Western societies, proposing a shift from traditional religious structures to focusing on Jesus' core values to maintain relevance and impact.

Evidence: Research reveals that while church membership is dwindling, Jesus' message still resonates with many. The misalignment between institutional religion and contemporary personal values is a critical factor in this decline.

Challenge: The challenge is to bridge the gap between society and Jesus' teachings, addressing distrust in traditional churches and showcasing how his principles can positively influence modern life beyond institutional frameworks.

Church of Santa Barbara (Llanera, Spain) converted into a skatepark / Cesar Manso / Getty Images

Edward Hall's 1976 Iceberg Model represented in a 3D render by Simon Lee, found on Unsplash.

Innovation Space

Opportunities: The widespread "Church no, but Jesus yes" sentiment offers a chance to renew faith by creating initiatives that reflect Jesus' values—justice, love, and compassion—while aligning with modern societal needs.

Insights: Building open and inclusive communities centered on Jesus' core teachings, rather than rigid institutional frameworks, fosters a deeper societal connection and amplifies positive impact.

A Holy Reset? AI-generated image of a button with a Christian cross on it (OpenAI, 2024).

Vision

Principles: Societies thrive when guided by Jesus' core values—love, justice, and empathy. This vision prioritizes connection to his teachings over adherence to institutional religion.

Strategy: Position Jesus as the central agent of change, using his values to inspire societal transformation. Communities and projects that embody these teachings can drive meaningful collective well-being.

Brand concept

Interventions

Outcomes: Verbal aspires to be a "Space 10" for contemporary Christian spirituality, acting as an innovation hub to integrate faith into society. It focuses on creating socially conscious communities rooted in Jesus’ values and supporting faith-based projects through strategic design.

Impact: Presented as a Master's Final Thesis with a score of 9/10, Verbal is now in the execution phase, building a network of initiatives that connect faith and social innovation to drive meaningful change.

Brand Concept Development into an Intervention

A systemic frame model of Jesus featuring ten steps, blending empirical insights with faith-based elements, inspired by Søren Kierkegaard’s leap of faith. (Created by Álvaro Doladé)

Presentation of the thesis in front of the Master's Program jury

Learnings

The thesis demonstrates that the future of Christianity hinges on prioritizing Jesus’ values over traditional church structures. By centering on his teachings—justice, love, and empathy—societies can foster greater cohesion and thrive beyond institutional boundaries.