Conference Call: Design Anthropological Futures

Design Anthropological Futures conference
Organised by the Research Network for Design Anthropology
August 13-14, 2015
Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts – School of Design in Copenhagen, Denmark

The Design Anthropological Futures conference explores future-making from a design anthropological perspective. The concept of futures relates both to the creation of visions and practices of the possible through transformative processes of anthropology and design, and to the exploration of new frontiers for the field of design anthropology.

Design anthropology is an emerging transdisciplinary field, which is enjoying growing attention in recent years. In an interconnected world where the boundaries between physical, social and digital environments become increasingly challenged, the conventional distinctions between social science and design research no longer hold. The conference explores different perspectives on design anthropology as a holistic and critical approach to complex everyday and societal issues, with the aim of creating potential futures with diverse communities and stakeholders.

With a starting point in a forthcoming book based on a selection of papers (to be made available to the participants) prepared under the auspices of the Research Network for Design Anthropology (2013-2015) the conference addresses future concerns in design anthropology, and its particular approaches to futures-in-the-making through two keynote speeches, four thematic discussions and an exhibition space for workshops on emerging design anthropological practices.

The organisers now invite participation of researchers, professionals and research students with an interest in these concerns in design anthropology. Participants can prepare their contributions to the conference discussions by submitting position statements for the thematic discussions or by proposing exhibits and workshop proposals for the exhibition space (for details of submission see below). Participation without submissions is also welcome, but the total number is limited to 100 participants.