DAAP brings global scholars together to explore More-than-Human Design

The More-than-Human Design project brought internationally recognized researchers to DAAP to explore how technology, ecology and design can address the needs of ecosystems, nonhuman species and the environment alongside human users, and how these ideas shape the future of design education.

Design has traditionally centered on human needs, and those in DAAP working on the More-than-Human Design project examined how design education can evolve as the discipline continues to expand. They discussed the possibility of including other species in the design process, especially those affected by ecological issues.

"It all started with discussions around this thought," DAAP professor Isil Oygur said. "It makes things really broad, and it's been an ongoing discussion, but there are no practical and operational ways of incorporating that into either industrial design as a practice or industrial design education in general."

Oygur was part of the team responsible for identifying internationally recognized scholars to participate in the project. They read widely cited research on more-than-human design and compiled a list of experts they believed would bring valuable perspectives to conversations with students and faculty. The invited scholars included Laura Forlano, professor at Northeastern University; Iohanna Nicenboim, assistant professor at the University of Applied Arts Vienna; and Anton Poikolainen Rosén, assistant professor at Stockholm University.

Rather than delivering traditional lectures, the group organized discussion sessions with faculty and workshops with students. These interactive sessions encouraged participants to ask questions, test ideas through design exercises and engage in conversations about how more-than-human design thinking could influence future design practice and education.

Students were exposed to new ideas through a series of workshops. Oygur believes the experience was not only about how more-than-human design can be applied, but also about how the methods and tools introduced through the project can inform broader design practice. In addition, students had the opportunity to engage with researchers from other countries and cultures, broadening their perspectives on global approaches to design.

Students working during the More-Than-Human Design workshop.

"No one really knows how to move forward with it," Oygur said. "Everyone is trying to figure things out. In reality, this whole more-than-human design idea really goes into sustainability and the future, including voices of others, but it's not really practice-driven yet. So when it comes to the industry and practice end of things, there are very few companies that are really implementing this at this point."

Another major component of the project was reflection, encouraging participants to critically examine emerging ideas and their potential applications. Rather than producing tangible products, the project emphasized speculative design concepts and scenario-based thinking, allowing students and faculty to explore both the opportunities and limitations of more-than-human design.

While the project is still ongoing, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from students and faculty. Students responded positively to the activities and the new global perspectives they gained from experts in the field.

"They even started questioning why we're not already incorporating those ideas," Oygur said. "What I understood from their feedback is that the reality is that they want to see the larger spectrum of things and make conscious decisions after knowing what those possibilities are. So they were extremely positive."

The More-than-Human Design project represents one of several initiatives advancing DAAP's broader commitment to emerging technologies, sustainability and future-focused design education. By bringing leading researchers together with faculty and students, the college is creating new opportunities to explore how design can respond to increasingly complex environmental and societal challenges.

"This has been a success," Oygur said. "People want to brainstorm around this idea, so we want to continue discussing it."

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Story developed by Austin Bass and edited for publication by Claudia Rébola.

Photos provided by Isil Oygur.

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