NEW BOOK: DESIGN AS POLITICS
Published by Berg in February 2011, Design as Politics is Tony Fry’s latest book. It presents a compelling argument as to why democracy is unable to deliver sustainment, and how design must become central to the remaking of the political, beyond the limits of institutionalised politics. It's a sequel to Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Berg, 2009). More information from Berg  http://www.bergpublishers.com/?TabId=14869&v=1866821

INVITATION to EXPRESS INTEREST

Design Action, Leadership & the Future    Brisbane HotHouse event 22-24 July, 2011

Design practice (in all its disciplines, including architecture) is at a crossroads. Notwithstanding the introduction of ‘sustainability’ in design education and in commerce, design dominantly still serves the unsustainable. To move toward ‘sustainment’ as project and process, radical and effective action is needed. For this to happen, a dynamic, global change community of focused thinkers, activists and leaders has to be created. This intensive ‘HotHouse’ event aims to explore the creation of this community and to be a catalyst for its creation. It is only for the committed.

Anyone – educators, design practitioners, writers – can apply. 50 people will be selected. The event will be conducted in English.

The HotHouse will be led by Professor Tony Fry (Griffith University, QCA, Brisbane) with four team leaders: Professor Cameron Tonkinwise (Parsons/New School, New York); Professor Lisa Norton (School of the Art Institute of Chicago), Mr Duncan Fairfax (Goldsmiths/University of London) and Dr Abby Lopes (University of Western Sydney) with event documentation under the direction of Professor Oliver Feltham (American University, Paris).

It will be hosted by Griffith University, Queensland College of Art. There is no registration fee and food will be provided. Travel and accommodation are at the attendee’s expense.

The 50 participants will work with group leaders on a common process in four groups:

Group Red: Projects driving: politics, ‘things’, practices

Group Blue: ‘Things’ driving: projects, practices, politics

Group Green: Practices driving: ‘things’, politics, projects

Group Black: Politics driving: practices, projects, ‘things’

The objective of this process is for participants to leave with a selection of projects, design actions, new practices and political strategies – informed by their own context – that can form the basis of collaborations formed at the event. The most critical aspect of the HotHouse is not what happens at it but what occurs after it’s over! At its most ambitious, the event aims to create an ‘educational institution without a place’ (an ‘Urmadic Academy’) that can structure and facilitate the exchange of knowledge, projects and research programs.

TO RECEIVE THE FULL BRIEF AND TO FIND OUT HOW TO MAKE AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST CONTACT Michelle Conran m.conron@griffith.edu.au EOIs close FRIDAY 6 MAY.