Weltformat Symposium 2020

Miriam Koban and I co-curated and moderated a one-day symposium during Weltformat 2020 in a hybrid format – on Zoom and in person. Weltformat’s theme was “Not (Yet) Cancelled”.

The first panel was Adapt and extend: new modes of design.
Many of the recent changes have led designers to adapt their approach to the profession. For instance, they developed new visual modes of communication at lightning speed. But other changes have been on designers’ mind before contemporary crises. They have wider implications for our practice. This panel discusses concrete solutions on how we can design for our new needs and demands.

Guests

Adeline Mollard and Urs Lehni
Loraine Furter
Elsa Westreicher and Juan Pablo Garciá Sossa

The second panel was called Dealing with power: design and systemic change.
Even before recent events, designers have been reflecting on a need to address change beyond their daily practice. Like other professionals, they are wondering about their place and contribution to society. Many feel a need to inscribe a political dimension to their work, since systemic issues cannot be addressed like a design brief. How can we reappraise and reinvent the systems we use and on which we rely? This panel debates our role as designers within wider structures to critically reassess our profession.

Guests

Flo Jakober
Madeleine Morley (who was unfortunately unable to join us)
Ruben Pater