Konstfack Research Seminar – Research platform: Design Explorations

Seminar title: Using Critical Speculative Design to Break Free from Eco-modernist Imaginaries – Flipping Perspectives on Urban Sustainability

Presenting: Loove Broms

A research platform is a collective of individuals whose research is united by common themes. The platforms are formed organically as researchers with common interests and goals come together. Every teacher, researcher, and student at Konstfack that associate their practice with a research platform is welcome to join the platform and be a part of the network.

This seminar will be hosted by the Design Exporations platform. The Design Explorations research platform strives to be leading on artistic research focusing on prototypical strategies for transformation towards social and ecological sustainability. Central for the platform is an artistic, practice led, research approach that emphasises materiality and formgiving that engage with sustainability through three themes: Life-affirming worlds, Just transformations and Applied strategies.

In this seminar, Loove Broms will introduce the research platform Design Explorations and present results from the research project Beyond Efficiency. This includes a paper exemplifying how to use critical speculative design to ‘flip perspectives’ on three eco-modernist representations of sustainable urban development. How can this approach be useful in envisioning new imaginaries that break with preconceived socio-material conditions? Participants in the seminar is encouraged to reflect on their own practice in relation to this approach.

To prepare for the seminar, please read:
Hagbert, P., Wangel, J.,& Broms, L. (2020). Exploring the potential for just urban transformations in light of eco modernist imaginaries of sustainability. Urban Planning, 5(4), 204–216.

Loove Broms is a senior lecturer and research leader in design at Konstfack. He also holds a position as a researcher at KTH, in the Division of Strategic Sustainability Studies. Together with Martin Avila, he leads the Design Explorations research platform.

NOTE: Please register for the seminar by emailing Loove Broms at Loove.Broms@konstfack.se. Those who register will be emailed the seminar materials.

Research Seminars are a seminar format which, throughout the 2024-5 academic year, will centre upon the discussion and dissemination of artistic research at Konstfack, and the sharing of new insights. Each seminar will be organised by a different department at Konstfack, and will take place each month. This seminar is open to all staff, students and researchers at Konstfack, as well as members of the public.