Workshop Leader: Anna Foltinek

Description

Rapid technological development makes future developments almost impossible to predict. Technology is getting smaller, cheaper and more integrated with the human body. What happens when humans physically merge with machines? Cyborg-Centered Design is based on the realization that the relationship between humans and technology is changing. Technology is starting to merge with human identity and individuality. Cyborgs are human beings that have been permanently enhanced by it. The course introduces students to the topic and investigates - always with a critical and speculative eye - the possible effects of this transformation.

Objectives

As an introduction, students learn about the background and opportunities of Cyborg-Centered Design. Based on the question “How might we communicate with each other in the future?” students will explore cyborgs, as well as future trends in culture and communication. At the same time, they are introduced to the speculative design methodology and exemplary work. In doing so, they are encouraged to develop a critical way of thinking, to create meaningful outcomes that trigger discussions.

Content

In addition to the individual working sessions, joint mini-lectures will take place in the workshop as a basis and inspiration. The introduction to Cyborg-Centered Design will give an overview of the theory and its technologies. Likewise, the Human Enhancement debate around the topic is illuminated, which forms the basis of subsequent discussions. The creation process will follow the speculative design and future cone methodology.

Portfolio / Outcomes

Participants can decide how they want to implement their topic (whether independently or in teams), depending on their interests and abilities. Examples of possible results could be: A short animation or video, prototype, article, podcast, manifesto or similar. It is less about the theory and more about the deliberate use of design to make (possible, probable or (not) desirable) future scenarios visible. The end result will be a project that students can add to their portfolio, that not only demonstrates their ability to think outside the box, but their ability to think critically about the impact that design can have.

Required Tools, Materials, Equipment & Software

Laptop, paper and pen (anything that will enable your creativity to run wild)

Fees

Participation in this workshop is free for students and 160NZD (approx. 95EUR / 115USD / 430PLN) for professionals. Have questions? Please email our event organiser at exhibition2021@motyf-festival.com.

Professional tickets are on sale now. Student tickets will go on sale March 31, 2021 at 9:00PM (NZDT) / 9:00AM (CET).

Workshop Leader

Anna is an interaction and strategy designer (University of Applied Sciences in Schwäbisch Gmünd) working at Futurice in Munich—a Finnish-based innovation consultancy.

At the beginning of 2018—as part of her master thesis—she and fellow students Josephine Rais and Lea Schwegler explored the topic of “Cyborg-Centered Design” - the design of the technology-enhanced human of the future. Since then, she has been increasingly interested in the question of the social responsibility of design. Anna sees design as a process that uses tools like design methods and visualization as of simplification to bring clarity into complexity. She believes that strong communication is both: the greatest challenge and the key to facing challenging situations.

About Motyf 2021

This workshop is presented as part of the Motyf Festival 2021.

Motyf is an International Symposium and Media Art Exhibition that explores current and future forms of interactive and motion typography expressed through art, design, space and technology. The theme of the 2021 Festival is “Communicating Complexity” and will broadly explore how the elements and principles of visual, motion and interactive design can be leveraged within sequential, interactive, spatial or experiential works to authentically inform our understanding of society, elucidate complex concepts or aid in the communication of data. Please visit the Motyf 2021 Website for more information about our workshops, symposium and exhibition.