Design is… corrupting (original) (raw)

Rethinking politics from design (and design from politics)

REVISTA DISEÑA, 2017

What has design to do with politics? The usual answer would be: nothing. At first glimpse, politics would be a realm indifferent and alien to design. While politics must deal with the governing of human interests for the sake of common good, design, instead, would be focused on form, the aesthetic and functional arrangement of the things that populate the world. The realm of the political would be populated by norms and values (liberty, tolerance, etc.), founding its duties on what Weber called 'the legitimate use of force' (Weber, 1944). The field of design, on its part, would respond to the rule of the needs of the user, focusing its forces on transforming, creatively and sensitively, the materialities into useful, usable or decorative products. It is precisely the separation between politics and design, deeply rooted in the thought and action of the latter, which this dossier attempts to thematise and problematise.

DESIGN AS DEMOCRACY: THE DEMOCRATIC POTENTIAL OF DESIGN

DESIGNING SUSTAINABILITY FOR ALL, 2019

The present article proposes to investigate possible futures for the design through a proximal and dialogical ap- proach between design and democracy. In this way, we begin with the letter “Stand Up for Democracy”, written by Manzini and Margolin. Thus we seek to understand the foundations of the concept of Design as Democracy, pro- posed by the mentioned authors. We seek a relationship between the structures of democratic models and design practices. For these reasons, we have opened up a dialogue on codesign as a possible methodological alternative for a democratic design, more comprehensive, horizontal and open for all. Providing a fertile ground where collective creativity can be used as a form of collaboration and solving common problems is mirrored in design as democracy. For this resonates with the creation of a more inclusive and sustainable world for the future generation.

Designing Politics: The limits of design

Designing Politics: The limits of design, 2016

What are the limits of design in addressing the political and/or when has design not been enough? This question lies at the heart of Designing Politics, an ongoing project at Theatrum Mundi. After three years of organising ideas challenges in cities around the world, Theatrum Mundi gathered a group of architects, academics, artists and activists in May 2016 to reflect on the questions it asks, and the fundamental relationship between design and politics. This collection of thought pieces stems from a workshop in May 2016 at the Villa Vassilieff in Paris, supported by the Global Cities Chair at the Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme in Paris.

THE ROLE OF DESIGNERS IN A DEMOCRACY

There's been a recent call for designers around the world to take more than a cursory interest in democratic discourses and political happenings in their domains; although, this is aimed at strengthening democratic practices, the intricacies and dynamics of contemporary political systems currently makes this, antithetical to the traditional role of the designer in a society. Thus, this paper highlights the conflicts surrounding the characterizations and practicality of contemporary democracy and the challenges of associating it with design and designers. It further argues that the design community as an entity lacks the requisite credibility to lead a pro-democracy campaign in view of its own questionable democratic credentials. The paper concludes that rather than join the populist bandwagon of slogan-chanting pro-democracy activists, the design community as an entity should become politically agnostic, but more socially-conscious – focusing solely on the social welfare of the people in every community it serves – whether in democracies, monarchies or communist states.

Illiberal Design: A Widely Framed Political Rumination

Meaningful conceptual examination of contemporary design should account for some aspect of the discipline’s moral, social and political agency as a matter of course. Any critique should employ approaches that allow for more productive elucidation and that circumvent parochial tendencies to evaluate practice from merely aesthetic, transactional or prudential perspectives. With this admonition in mind, this essay examines the differences between seminal political meta-narratives promulgated by liberal democracy and particular philosophical conceptions that have and continue to inform design practice. In so doing it illuminates the ways in which design operates as a salient counterpoint to normative political beliefs that shape cultural production, notions of self and understandings of the relationship between individual and society. It also asks the question, if this contrast were exploited, would ‘illiberal’ design be able to spark and sustain a more durable common good.

Democratic Considerations of Design in Complex Systems and Public Sector

2017

As designers venture deeper into government institutions and attempt to partake in solving the monumental problems facing global society, it is appropriate to question how the designers and the design community relate to the democratic implications of these engagements. This article attempts to frame this question by looking at historical and political aspects of design, as well as the practices used by designers operating in complex systems. The implementation of design and design related practices in government is reviewed, as is some literature in the field of design relating to democracy and design. The theory is discussed, and reflections on opportunities related to democratic participation are made.

The Politics of Design

In this brief article, I discuss the politics of design, specifically how the older art movements like Art Deco, Brutalism, et.al. have made a comeback. I discuss the tussle between Steve Jobs led skeumorphism and the flat designs, and question if the Google's 2014 Material Design offers the solution to the same or if that's just an easy answer. The perpetuation of negative space has been discussed. In the post-Weinstein world, the effects of #metoo on design are also covered.