Introduction to the Proceedings of RSD11—Possibilities and Practices of Systemic Design
Cheryl May and Ben Sweeting
As designers look to address systemic challenges, they must wrestle with tensions and conflicting requirements within their practices and the situations they seek to change. Systemic questions cannot be approached one at a time in isolation. Yet, it is inevitable that design is partial in its engagements – to address everything is implausible or uncritical to implicit boundary judgements and the privileges of dominant perspectives. Unpredictable interdependencies require a cautious approach, yet incremental strategies risk entrenching underlying errors and injustices by making the status quo more palatable. Profound, long-term changes are needed, but the urgency of the present also demands immediately achievable actions.
Hosted by the University of Brighton
RSD11 was a four-day symposium, available in-person and online. The core programme ran October 13-16, with pre-symposium workshops, events, and the Systemic Design Association’s general assembly on October 12. #NewMacy also ran a dedicated track at RSD11. The focus was “ontogenesis,” developing new ways of becoming. #NewMacy sets ontogenetic resilience as the framing intention — and cybernetics as key.
RSDX preceded the symposium, October 3-9, as an online programme of panels and workshops that explored systemic design directions and offered opportunities to apply methods in a systemic design context. RSD11 participants could access RSDX sessions at no additional cost and some of the sessions were open to all.
BRIGHTON’S SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING IS BASED AT THE MOULSECOOMB CAMPUS.
RSD11 and #NewMacy presented a track dedicated to catalyzing conversations for action across disciplines, geographies, and generations through systemic principles, processes, and communities. #NewMacy creates conditions for enacting productive responses among individuals and communities that bring about change in the near term while planning for and committing to the timespan required to effect lasting change. The current focus is a new framing for “ontogenesis,” specifically that of developing new ways of becoming. To survive in a changing world, we must embrace resilience in lieu of security, interpreted as constancy. Hence, #NewMacy substitutes ontogenetic resilience as the framing intention — and Cybernetics as key. Introduction to #NewMacy
As designers look to address systemic challenges, they must wrestle with tensions and conflicting requirements within their practices and the situations they seek to change. Systemic questions cannot be approached one at a time in isolation. Yet, it is inevitable that design is partial in its engagements – to address everything is implausible or uncritical to implicit boundary judgements and the privileges of dominant perspectives. Unpredictable interdependencies require a cautious approach, yet incremental strategies risk entrenching underlying errors and injustices by making the status quo more palatable. Profound, long-term changes are needed, but the urgency of the present also demands immediately achievable actions.
Hosted by the University of Brighton
RSD11 was a four-day symposium, available in-person and online. The core programme ran October 13-16, with pre-symposium workshops, events, and the Systemic Design Association’s general assembly on October 12. #NewMacy also ran a dedicated track at RSD11. The focus was “ontogenesis,” developing new ways of becoming. #NewMacy sets ontogenetic resilience as the framing intention — and cybernetics as key.
RSDX preceded the symposium, October 3-9, as an online programme of panels and workshops that explored systemic design directions and offered opportunities to apply methods in a systemic design context. RSD11 participants could access RSDX sessions at no additional cost and some of the sessions were open to all.
BRIGHTON’S SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING IS BASED AT THE MOULSECOOMB CAMPUS.
RSD11 and #NewMacy presented a track dedicated to catalyzing conversations for action across disciplines, geographies, and generations through systemic principles, processes, and communities. #NewMacy creates conditions for enacting productive responses among individuals and communities that bring about change in the near term while planning for and committing to the timespan required to effect lasting change. The current focus is a new framing for “ontogenesis,” specifically that of developing new ways of becoming. To survive in a changing world, we must embrace resilience in lieu of security, interpreted as constancy. Hence, #NewMacy substitutes ontogenetic resilience as the framing intention — and Cybernetics as key. Introduction to #NewMacy
OCTOBER 12 | UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON, MOULSECOOMB CAMPUS
OCTOBER 13 & 14 | IRONWORKS STUDIOS
OCTOBER 15 & 16 | UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON, CITY CAMPUS
Cheryl May and Ben Sweeting
Ben Sweeting and Sally Sutherland
RSD10 – Possibilities and Practices. Held online and in person Ocotober 3-16, 2022. Hosted by University of Brighton, UK.
#NewMacy
National Institute of Design
#NewMacy
The RSD11 programme includes keynote speakers, paper tracks (papers & presentations), activity sessions, workshops, and exhibits. Most will be available both online and in-person.
RSD11 was made possible by the efforts of dedicated committee members, peer reviewers, and the incredible team at Southcoast Events, Ironworks Studio, and the University of Brighton.
Seven specific focus areas have been developed as provocations for critical reflection, new topics, and different directions.