July 2-4-2009

Design Activism encompasses a wide range of real-life, socially and environmentally engaged actions. It includes processes that innovate forms of creative practice, providing models by which designers might work, or challenge existing conventions of design knowledge.

EXHIBITION: ENGAGE

Engage is intended as a national showcase for design students and graduates whose work is focused on activism, social change and/or environmental benefit.

Graduate design exhibitions such as London’s ‘New Designers’ tend to be dominated by more mainstream and commercially-orientated work. ‘Engage’ provides an alternative space for student and graduate design activists who are concerned with confronting the multitude of pressing, real-world issues that face us locally and globally.

Work included in the exhibition may come from disciplines such as product, furniture, fashion, service and urban design, appropriate technology, co-design, participatory practice, architecture, landscape architecture, digital media, graphic design and visual communications.

The exhibition space can cater for conventional shows with presentation boards and plinths. Also, there is some video projection material available.

If you would like to propose a project of yours to be included in this event, please send an outline of the work to be exhibited to the organiser Anne Schiffer (a.schiffer@leedsmet.ac.uk) by by Friday 5 June.

Proposal format: outline 200-400 words with images.

Thursday 2 July,
1830-2000 opening,
Friday 3 July,
Saturday 4 July,
1100-1700

Leeds Metropolitan Uni.
Old Broadcasting House,
148 Woodhouse Lane,
Leeds LS2 9EN, UK


PRACTITIONER CONFERENCE

The practitioner conference is devised to give voice to designers, artists, architects, students, performers, activists, observers and users of socially and/or environmentally committed creative practices.

The key aim of the event is to encourage the exchange of experiences and knowledge between practitioners of design activism. In particular, it is expected that this conference will facilitate the sharing of knowledge and understanding of practical engagement in design activism.

Rather than a traditional conference format of lecture theatre/ powerpoint/ speaker/ questions etc., this event is imagined more like a trade fair colliding with a participative symposium. The design ‘disciplines’ included in this event are interpreted broadly. Participants might be involved in academic, professional or voluntary practice in one or more of the following sectors: Architecture; design research; digital media; community activism; development work; interdisciplinary creative practice; landscape architecture; service and product design; urban design; visual arts; visual communications.

Presentations that share insights into practical experience of ‘design activist’ type activities are invited. Since this is a powerpoint-free practitioner conference, presentations are to be supported by: Instant exhibitions; posters; screenings; or other support.

The venue will be specially fitted out with exhibition, screening and presentation areas so that participants can move through the event, engaging with presenters according to a timetabled structure. Presentations will be 15 mins while support material will remain on show throughout the day. Proposals for presentations should be sent to the conference organiser, Anne Schiffer (a.schiffer@leedsmet.ac.uk) by Friday 5 June. Format: outline 200-400 words and images where necessary.

Friday 3 July,
1000-1700
The Leeds School of Architecture, Landscape and Design
Hepworth Point
Claypit Lane
Leeds LS2 8BQ, UK

Conference fees:
Presenter: £20
Other: £30
Student, OAP, benefit: £15
Includes conference pack,
lunch and refreshments.

Further information:
a.schiffer@leedsmet.ac.uk
www.designactivism.org