Dear All,
I am very pleased to read about new courses and programs on design & futures as well as questions rised about the content. Please let me share the link for my MFA thesis on "Understanding Changes and Future Orientations in Design", which I have completed under supervision of Dr. Wilsing at Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey in 2003. The theoretical background and the works cited may help for the researchers on the same subject. The complete theses is available as pdf document (ca. 3mb) from the link below. The second link is for my paper presented on the European Academy of Design Conference EAD06 in Bremen - Germany, which has a similiar content to my thesis but include some new citations. The pdf document available on that link is for the complete proceedings of the conference (ca. 25mb).
Regards,
Orhan Irmak
ORHAN IRMAK TASARIMGoksuevleri Sitesi, Palmiye Caddesi, A44B,Anadolu Hisari, Beykoz 34815 Istanbul / TurkeyTel. +90 216 4654812 pbx.Fax. +90 216 4654824www.orhanirmak.com
Irmak, Orhan. 2003. Understanding Changes and Future Orientations in Design. Unpublished MFA Thesis, Bilkent University, Ankara.
<http://www.thesis.bilkent.edu.tr/0002290.pdf>
Irmak, Orhan. 2005. “Applying the Future Studies Approach to Design”. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference of the European Academy of Design. Bremen, 29-31 March.
<http://ead06.hfk-bremen.de>
> ------------------------------> > Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:45:38 -0000> From: "A.B.Thorpe" <[log in to unmask]>> Subject: futures, systems, social sciences, change> > I follow with interest the discussion emerging from Anne Marie's => announcement of the new Design Futures masters course. Having taught on => these myself (MA Sustainable Design and BA Product Design Sustainable => Futures at University College for the Creative Arts in the UK) I => appreciate both its challenges and opportunities.=20> > I agree with what I sense others are implying--that 'sustainability' as => a frame appears to offer design the platform from which to make these => very links into systems thinking and social science theories and => methods. As mentioned (or implied?) by others, tackling sustainability => points to both planetary ecological systems and, in cultural => sustainability terms, social systems that are typically understood => through the disciplines of economics, psychology, sociology or => anthropology and in terms such as production and consumption, identity, => networks, social movements and so on. =20> > As for the lack of institutional means for exploring sustainability (or => 'futures') relations between design and social sciences (Clive's lament => as I understand it) I would agree that few exist explicitly in design => terms. But there are several factors to consider here:> - the area is hugely interdisciplinary.> - futures/transformative societal solutions are unlikely to emerge in => forms that we initially recognize, indeed despite a few 'neat-o' => physical prototypes, solutions are likely to involve some political and => economic shifts that will be seen as threatening or risky --in other => words they'll involve struggle.> - designers in practice are (stereotypically) politics-averse, => client-led problem solvers who accept as a given their role dedicated to => the private sector.=20> -although some transformative solutions will surely emerge from within => the private sector, the scope for these solutions is typically limited => to profit making requirements, meaning that many crucial sustainability => objectives won't be well-addressed (if addressed at all) in the private => sector.=20> > In this case, is a design-centered institution the best institutional => means? Or should designers look to other institutions that excel in some => of the areas of 'struggle' or social sciences of interest, and join => forces with them? I have not resolved it in my own mind. How does design => reconcile its role as servant to commercial clients and their users with => its potential role as transformative change agent and societal leader => (read public service/not-for-profit sectors of the economy)? Does it => have to? Will it remain primarily a 'change agent for hire'?> > Returning to the new course in Design Futures and others like it, how we => answer these questions has tremendous implications for how we instruct => our MA students -- Do they put into practice their fantastic futurizing => capabilities if and only if someone hires them to (the conventional => hired problem solver model)? Or are they equipped with a strategy not => just for 'futures design' but also for how to position themselves within => the economy so that they can actually apply it? I see few if any courses => addressing this latter problem realistically. In my own research the => broader issues as well as the course-specific ones concern the shape and => dimensions of design activism.> > Regards,> > Ann Thorpe> > . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .=20> [log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]> > Contact: Dept. of Design, Development, Environment & Materials> Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK> +44 (0) 1908 653568> > Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London,> Wates House, 22 Gordon Street London WC1H 0QB, UK> > see also my book : The Designer's Atlas of Sustainability (Island Press, => 2007) http://www.designers-atlas.net & blog http://designactivism.net> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .=20> > ------------------------------> > End of PHD-DESIGN Digest - 18 Mar 2008 to 19 Mar 2008 (#2008-63)> ****************************************************************
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