Design, Social Change and Social Science: Catalyzing Interactions (Feb 25)

Theresa Lang Center, The New School, 55 W. 13th Street
February 25, 10am-Noon & 4.30pm-7.00pm

How can we create more robust interfaces between the critical
reflections of contemporary social sciences and the desires for social
change on the part of activists, designers and social theorists?

This day-long seminar will investigate the role of media design in
catalyzing public engagement; the role of contemporary social science
reflections in expanding understandings of community and ideas of the
public as components of the development and design processes; and the
increasing burden placed on design professionals to respond to highly
speculative and contingent conditions under which the planning of urban
futures now takes place.

Join designers, architects, social theorists and activists from Mumbai,
NYC and points-in-between as we consider the present and future of
design and social practice in the interest of contemporary urbanism and
action.

Panels:
10.30am – 12noon : Speculative Designs: Urban Games and Social
Transformation
Participants: Neera Adarkar, Meena Menon, Colleen Macklin, Jane Pirone,
Vyjayanthi Rao + Design and Technology Students from the Mobile Media
Collab Studio, Fall 2006.

Noon - 4.30: Lunch (provided) + Break

4.30 – 6.30pm: Architecture and Activism: Lessons from Mumbai
Participants: Neera Adarkar, Pankaj Joshi, Laura Kurgan, Arjun
Appadurai, Carol Breckenridge & Vyjayanthi Rao.