Design and the Elastic Mind is the title of an exhibition taking place at MoMA in February 2008. It’s early days and there are not many details about the event, but my interest was piqued by the following statement”

[the exhibition] focuses on designers’ ability to grasp momentous changes in technology, science, and social mores, changes which will demand or reflect major adjustments in human behavior, and convert them into objects and systems that people can actually understand and use.

It’s an interesting assertion, and a bold claim to make for design, which perhaps plays a more integrated role amongst a broader network of industries, individuals and technologies. What the statement captures well, is that some kind of translation or normalisation takes place alongside technological change, and that design surely plays a role by contributing “thoughtful concepts that can provide guidance and ease as science and technology proceed in their evolution”. I’m looking forward to seeing how this exhibition develops.

A workshop at The Womens Library brought together a group of 30 people from engineering, design, science communication and social sciences. The day started with a series of presentations featuring collaborative projects, followed by two breakout sessions to discuss some the issues associated with running these types of project.

There’s a pdf of the workshop handout here, and a presentation of the project here. Documentation about the event will follow shortly in the events section.

An exhibition of the Biojewellery project has been installed at Central Middlesex Hospital. Here’s a map of the area around the hospital which is part of the North West London Hospitals NHS Trust. The exhibition is part of NWLH Arts programme, and has been kindly supported by its director Candice Hurwitz, and Karen Sarkissian at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity.

On 19th March, LCACE held a one day conference at the Unicorn Theatre. It’s theme was partnerships between higher education and the arts and cultural industries. Along with Janis Jefferies, Marian Ursu, Nina Wakeford, Mark d’Inverno and Jane Prophet, I was invited to join a group from Goldsmiths to help deliver a morning workshop.

Our theme was “Arts and Technology – Issues arising from collaboration”. I presented Biojewellery as an example of a collaborative project between engineers and designers. I also described the way that practice of this kind creates links to many other people, who can equally be thought of as collaborators. These include other science workers, ethicists, and of course members of the public.

I came away thinking that while from the outside these collaborations are described through mechanisms like knowledge transfer, it is the texture and specifity of a shared practice that is interesting. This made me feel relived that I have an oppurtunity to make and do things, as well as thinking about how they might best be made or done.

RESEARCHER – 2 POSTS
Up to £34,888 pa incl
Part time (0.2ftte) 14 months fixed term
New Cross, London

Material Beliefs is funded by the EPSRC and based in the Interaction Research Studio, within the Department of Design, Goldsmiths, University of London. Material Beliefs will focus on technologies which blur the boundaries between our bodies and materials. How can we deploy design to invigorate a public discussion about the value of these forms of hybridity?

The aim of this project is to pair experienced research engineers and designers through a residency program, which will lead to a series of public exhibitions and engagement events. You will be supported in the creation of a collaborative residency based in an engineering department at a UK university. There are two broad phases to the role, with a seven month period of exploratory research followed by a seven month period of design and development.

You will have a Postgraduate design qualification or equivalent and be an experienced maker with a range of design skills and research portfolio. You will have an interest in challenging the role of design research and also have the ability to work in a team and on your own using own initiative.
Excellent communication and organisational skills are also essential.

For further information:
www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/personnel
hr@gold.ac.uk
020 7919 7999
Please quote ref: 07/95RE

Closing date: Monday 26 March 2007 by 5.00pm Interview date: week commencing 9 April 2007

Committed to equal opportunities

Material Beliefs is a two year project which encourages partnerships between engineers and designers. It is based in the Department of Design at Goldsmiths, University of London, and over the next two years will develop links with engineering departments in universities across the UK.

Funding for the project has been provided by the EPSRC, and the proposal was originally developed during an Ideas Factory held in March 2006.

The objective of the project is to let engineers and designers think and work together, and talk to a broad audience about the role and implications of engineering upon our society.

This blog will provide a record of the project as it develops, and highlight other relevent news and resources.