Forms of Sustainability

'Forms of Sustainability' investigates intersections between critical practice and sustainable design, material culture and design history. Aiming to further develop the theoretical and methodological aspects of critical and conceptual design, the project inquires into conceptions of 'form' in light of the contemporary social and environmental challenges posed by sustainability. Combining theoretical, historical and practice-based approaches to design research, we explore how design critique and critical practice can be combined to surface and explore issues in, and about, design.

The purpose of the project is to discover new possibilities for design in sustainable development, and to present these possibilities in the form of both theory and concrete design examples. In doing so, we will build upon our experiences and results from a series of previous design research programs, such as Static! and Switch! as well as from a range of relevant movements within the study and practice of the arts, crafts and design in Sweden.
 
Forms of Sustainability is a project led and initiated by the Interactive Institute's Design Research Unit and funded by the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet). Collaborators include Christina Zetterlund (Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design) and Cilla Robach (Nationalmuseum). The 3-year project starts in the beginning of 2009.

(Entry in the Swedish Research Council's project database)

Within the Forms of Sustainability project, we are also engaged in DESIGN ACT. DESIGN ACT is a project initiated and produced by Iaspis, the Swedish Arts Grants Committee’s International Programme for Visual Arts, in collaboration with the Interactive Institute. Project managers: Magnus Ericson (Iaspis), Ramia Mazé (Interactive Institute).