After last yearβs kickoff to fuel the debate in design research by the Dutch four technical universities we introduce five new themes for discussion. What role can design play in tackling these big themes? Join our live-streamed talk shows, visit our Klokgebouw expo and browse our e-magazine.
Entangled Ecologies Monday 18 October, 15:00 β 16:00
Designers processes and the products they produce, originate and function within multiple entangled ecologies, including the natural, social and technological. These entanglements challenge designers to identify interdependencies within and across worldly phenomena and find ways to address them together. Singling out elements of an ecology is simply not possible when engaging it in a design.
JOIN THE LIVESTREAM: https://2021.design-united.nl/day-1-entangled-ecologies/
Connected Interactions β Tuesday 19 October, 15:00 β 16:00
A consequence of ecological thinking in design is that interactions have both local and global implications. The theme Connected Interactions brings home the idea that interacting with something can be meaningful for a particular time and place or can be alien to it, has an impact on other interactions taking place, and can even transcend particular situations, producing effects beyond the local circumstances.
JOIN THE LIVESTREAM: https://2021.design-united.nl/day-2-connected-interactions/
Changing Things β Wednesday 20 October, 15:00 β 16:00
Many βthingsβ that designers envision and make are no longer singular but plural: things with multiple identities and material substrates. Organic living material combined with digital material, assemblages of human and artificial intelligences, blends of machines and meanings. How does this plurality challenge our perceptions of things and which tools and techniques do designers have at their disposal to craft them?
Embedded Designers β Wednesday 20 October, 17:30 β 18:30
How are designer embedded in the ecologies in which they design and intend to transform? Their mere presence is not neutral. How do they choose their position? How do they deal with situations in which they find themselves, and how do they enable change: from within or from the outside, as humble catalysts, or as outspoken activists?
Evolving Methodologies β Thursday 21 October, 15:00 β 16:00
Design as a discipline is evolving and so as the collective methods and techniques that constitute it. What are the current and future challenges for design as a contributing, co-existing, identical, or even as an opposing discipline to the Social sciences, Humanities and Engineering?