Design-topias - Design for Posthumanist World-Making 

In a time characterised by multiple intersecting crises – what tools do we hold as designers to build better futures?

Crises transform ecologies, unearthing dormant alternatives for ways of being. This proseminar explores design as world-making through the lens of critical posthumanism, considering what it means for designers to de-center the human. Critical posthumanism as described by theorists such as Rosi Braidotti and Donna Haraway is becoming increasingly popular in the field of design. Examples from theory, art, design and activism that conceive of the human in different ways will inform our reflections and discussion.

We will explore human’s relationship with non-human (natural and technological) agents by engaging with new forms of interactions and tools to navigate entangled ecosystems. Rather than dreaming up a future utopia we are going to approach design as a future praxis for the healing of the web of life, as suggested by the anthropologist Arturo Escobar. Through this proseminar we hope to conceive of design-strategies that make small contributions to enacting alternative presents in our own design-topias.  

Language: German

For successful completion of this proseminar the following requirements apply:

• regular, punctual attendance (min. 80% of all sessions)
• preparation for active oral participation in discussion and workshops with considered comments and questions on texts and topics (30% of grade)
• presentation (15 min.) of an approach to design-topia for the student’s own practice (40% of grade)
• submission of the presentation with accompanying images and references (https://www.scribbr.de/chicago-zitierweise/literaturverzeichnis-chicago-style/) + a designed page (portrait or landscape) of a personal design-manifesto or article about the design-topia as a handout. Deadline: 7 June. (30% of grade)

This proseminar is held in German. Presentations and handouts can be delivered in German or English.