In this transdisciplinary workshop the aim was to explore our relationships with more-than-human entities and broaden our awareness of their presence. How do we begin to care about others of whose existence we might not even have been previously aware?
The participants, who came from a variety of professional backgrounds, engaged in two workshops throughout the day, each aimed at exploring the interconnection between design and more-than-human entities in modern society. By closely sensing the environment and the materials that comprised her, we uncovered overlooked questions such as “How did I see?” and “How did I touch?”. We immersed ourselves in sound, touch, and smell, to deepen our understanding of the environment and acknowledge the diverse perspectives and Umwelten of different species. Umwelt is the unique world experienced by each living organism based on its senses and abilities. This recognition helped us realize the impact human activity exerted beyond anthropocentric limitations and revealed the multispecies interconnections that existed beyond sight.
By incorporating a sensory-driven approach to design, we witnessed the materials coming alive with a multitude of multi-species beings and cultural histories. The workshop prompted us, as designers, to reflect on the significant impact materials have on the interconnected workings of the world in relation to the design process, urging us to cultivate a heightened awareness of these connections.
By incorporating a sensory-driven approach to design, we witnessed the materials coming alive with a multitude of multi-species beings and cultural histories. The workshop prompted us, as designers, to reflect on the significant impact materials have on the interconnected workings of the world in relation to the design process, urging us to cultivate a heightened awareness of these connections.
