Articles

Digesting Rage

Written by Avşar Gürpınar

Arguably some of the more evocative sorts of protest are those which adopt objects, either as their symbol or as their chosen means of causing turbulence. That object might be a referential character that then becomes the name or face of the protest. Or it could be a food item, a readily
consumable product — which by its very nature adds an extra layer of impact to the demonstration. We’re taking a look at various protests, notably those that have employed edibles.

Link to DAMN Magazine ︎︎︎

What Constitutes Good Design?

Written by Louis Harnett O’Meara

Link to Space 10 website ︎︎︎

Objects, People, And Peace

Written by Caroline O’Connell

Our world and our lived experiences are shaped by objects. We rely upon, construct, sort, alter, cherish, fight over, and share them. We imbue objects with meaning, consciously and unconsciously, and thus they reveal much about the individuals and communities who made and use them.

Link to Cooper Hewitt website ︎︎︎

(Book Review) Design Issues (2007)

Written by Tony Fry

Link for online PDF ︎︎︎

How Can Design Support Humane Forms of Peace and Security?

Written by Cynthia E. Smith

Humane forms of peace and security may be achieved only by expanding our aspirations beyond the military definition of security promulgated by nation-states to encompass a condition characterized by respect for human dignity, cultural identity, and the environment, and in which individuals are valued and protected and their basic needs are met.

Link to Cooper Hewitt website ︎︎︎

Politics of Designing Visions of the Future

Written by Ramia Mazé

Scenarios for policy and the public are increasingly given form by designers. For design, this means ideas about the future – futurity – is at stake, particularly in genres of ‘concept’, ‘critical’ and ‘persuasive’ design. While critical approaches are present in futures studies and political philosophy, design assumptions and preferences are typically not explicit, including gender norms, socio-ecological practices and power structures. Calling for further studies of the politics of design visions, I outline possible approaches and elaborate through the example ‘Switch! Energy Futures’. I reflect upon how competing visions and politics of sustainability become explicit through our process, aesthetics and stakeholders.

Link for online PDF ︎︎︎

 

What Does It Mean to Decolonize Design?

Written by Anoushka Khandwala

“Decolonization” is a word we’re increasingly hearing at design events, often being used interchangeably with “diversity.” It’s important to emphasize that while the terms are linked, they shouldn’t be confused. Diversity is about bringing more people to the table. Decolonization is about changing the way we think. So what does that mean for design and designers?

Link to AIGA Eye On Design ︎︎︎