Reflective Practices

Contemporary Design

This 6 week long reflective practices course introduces critical and reflective approaches to design, which we consider to be an evolving, political and activist field. We look at different practices of critical design including speculative design, transition design, design activism and their theoretical and historical foundations. We also discuss how to use our agency as designers in line with our values and learn to incorporate new reflective practices into our work.

Hands moving salt around on a black background — Possesion to Nature by Jimin Hong

The 21st century is marked by uncertainty. Suddenly many of the questions we used to ask through design  – and answered – seem superfluous and we question our basic assumptions of how we produce, consume and engage with the world. Rapid changes challenge us to reflect on where we stand, what we believe in, and what kind of future our work helps to create.

How do we practice design in this shifting landscape?

The aim of this course is to critically reflect on actual design case studies, become aware of what we take for granted in our own design practices – and actively evolve our ways of working through this reflection.    

Students apply research-oriented approaches to analyze and reflect upon their actions, mindsets, methods and outputs within their own field of design practice. We focus on the importance of curiosity on social, political, cultural and ecological issues provide skills to apply critical approaches as a springboard for design processes that address societal challenges.

The outcome of the course are short videos that reflect on topics chosen by the individual student. All kinds of forms and creative practice methods can be included in the exploration and can feature as the content of the filmed design outcome.