This Deep Dive is designed to equip students with the conceptual and practical tools to anticipate and critically discuss the individual, societal and environmental implications of everyday objects. These objects can be well-known historical examples (e.g. the printing press) or mundane everyday technologies (e.g. the washing machine) with a story. Drawing from critical theories from cultural studies and the social sciences, we will learn about various conceptual lenses (e.g. feminism, Marxism, orientalism) and collaboratively explore the power of design and its limits in the social matrix.
During the course, we will zoom into a specific ‘object’ every week, from teddy bears and cars to design schools and critique that object using a specific conceptual lens. To make these lenses accessible, we will have weekly seminars and interdisciplinary readings. To put theory into practice, we will organize debates and peer feedback sessions. In the spirit of autonomous learning, the students will take the lead in facilitating some of the seminars and debates. The assessment will be through a duo assignment critiquing each other’s design project from a past studio course, which will help develop a reflexive design practice.
By the end of this course, you will learn:
- Analyzing and interpreting various resources (e.g. articles, documentaries, advertisements) and designs (e.g. products, services) using critical thinking and reflection;
- Discussing the individual, societal, and environmental implications of your designs within their larger socio-political context;
- Anticipating and pinpointing the benefits and harms of design/technology for various groups in society, beyond the individual ‘end-user’.
The sessions will be moderated by Deǧer Özkaramanlı, Sam Franklin, and Roy Bendor.