Siv Årsand
Where traditional materials libraries typically focus on showcasing potential materials when starting new design processes, this initiative aims to dissect and understand the materials already present in our everyday digital devices. By exploring materials of dismantled existing products, participants gain insight into the intricate components and connections of our digital landscape, fostering a deeper comprehension of our technologically driven society.
The harmful effects of current consumption patterns and capitalist practices often exploit both land and people. Through applying critical design, this initiative aims to challenge and disrupt existing norms by amplifying the voices of marginalised groups, including nature and Indigenous communities. By shining a spotlight on local issues, such as the struggles faced by the Sami people in Scandinavia, especially in relation to mineral extraction and environmental degradation, this workshop emphasises the importance of acknowledging and addressing such injustices. Drawing from the rich cultural heritage of the Sami people, storytelling serves as a fundamental way of sharing indigenous knowledge and experiences.
Activities include reflections on storytelling and exploring narratives that challenge conventional perspectives and highlight the interconnectedness of nature and culture. The session includes small group discussions to conceptualise design interventions for the materials library, such as audiovisual presentations, textual narratives, and multimedia installations.
The workshop has two main tasks: mapping stories of materials and exploring how these stories can be told through design interventions, contributing to a gigamap visualising the connections of materials within the digital world.*
KEYWORDS: systemic design, sustainability, materials, materials library, natural resources, digital technologies, consumption
RSD TOPICS: Learning & Education, Mapping and Modelling, Sociotechnical Systems
*The workshop’s design outcomes inform ongoing research, including a PhD project by the same name, “Designing a Materials Library of the Digital World.” Additionally, the insights gained influence the physical design of the materials library, facilitating a more nuanced understanding of the digital ecosystem and its societal implications. The workshop aims to foster critical dialogue and conversations on material culture in the digital age through co-creation and interactive activities.