Speculative and Critical Design Summer School

We will explore the limits of prediction, modelling, forecasting and systems thinking in shaping the designed world in addition to exploring how narratives of progress are produced and shape material culture.
The 6 day course will establish the major tenants and principles of the speculative and critical design field. You will be invited to enter a dialogue with other designers about the nuances and potential applications of a new cannon of projects and products that aim to inform the contemporary design landscape.

Based in our industry standard design prototyping studios and using London as a base you will take part in practical workshops, carry out field-work in the city and take part in lectures from some of the leading thinkers and makers. Speakers will be announced in due course.



Full Description

Speculative and critical design is now a central part of the current design landscape, working both as an interdisciplinary toolkit and a field in and of itself. It is a vital cornerstone of the contemporary design vocabulary for any established practitioner or student alike. Opening up a space for designers to produce work that critically explores the consequences of mass production, mass deployment and mass communication, speculative and critical design practices are relevant to many forms of contemporary design.

Working with both practice and theory, this course will establish the major tenants and principles of the speculative and critical design field as well as invite participants into a dialogue about the nuances and potential applications of it. Participants will learn how to quickly prototype and demonstrate complex design and technological concepts through the use of design fictions and diegetic prototypes as well as a gain a critical understanding of the limitations and potential of this language as a tool for change.

The course will locate speculative and critical design by exploring key themes of future focused thinking. These include: infrastructure and systems, the anthropocene and network politics.

Topics covered

• An overview of the field of Speculative Critical Design, definitions, key concepts and practitioners
• Overview and discussion of key themes in future thinking - infrastructure and systems, the anthropocene and network politics
• Research techniques and methods for SCD
• Horizon scanning, foresight and methods and tools for future thinking
• Rapid prototyping and conceptualising for SCD
• World-building and narratology techniques for design
• Design fiction methods and media across film, photography, print, models and performance

Course Outcomes

By the end of the course you should be able to:

• Have a concrete and critical understanding of the field of speculative and critical design, its methods, key practices and central principles.
• Be able to conduct future-facing design research and ideation
• Be able to create demonstrative design fiction projects that communicate complex design, technological and socio-cultural ideas
• A completed speculative critical design project in the form of film or prototype
• Possess a new toolkit of techniques and methods for integrating with a range of practices

Level: Advanced. You will be and established practitioner, a recent graduate (post-grad) or current PhD student looking to embed an understanding of SCD and its methods and approaches in your approach to your practice research. You will have a portfolio of design work. If you have any questions about whether the course is suitable for you please contact us.

Tutors

This course will be taught by:

• Ben Stopher, Director of Interactive and Visual Communication and Course Leader for MA Interaction Design Communication at London College of Communication
• Tobias Revell, Course Leader, BA Information and Interface Design and Course Tutor. BA Interaction Design Arts (formerly Interaction and Moving Image)
• Plus guest academic speakers and industry thought-leaders.