CN08 - 'Conversing WITH Materials’ How do we converse with materials and other beings to co-design equitably?

Conveners: Jane Norris, Elvin Karana, & Nithikul Nimkulrat

How do we converse with materials and other beings to co-design equitably? In this conversation, we aim to host an event that acts as a catalyst to reanimate our mutual relationships with materials. It will seek to identify fresh tactics for designing and ‘con-structing’ objects. We will offer for consideration three ‘materials-as-co-performers’ of design practice, that operate as team members together with humans. Through activities such as sonic fictional design and performative design, this conversation will explore a more-than-human approach to making. During this event, emphasis will be placed on listening to materials and considering their intimate performative relationship to us. 
Questions for discussion will be: In what ways can we listen to materials? How do materials inform the hand and mind? How can we co-perform with materials? With this conversation, we will seek to map out a nascent material vocabulary relevant to co-making in the Anthropocene. The format of a conversation (rather than an address or lecture) is particularly appropriate for co-producing new understanding and for formulating equitable relationships amongst human and non-human beings.

Click here for full Conversation details.