Abstract
'Polyphonic Speculations' unites plurality and possibility; two powerful concepts for Design Research. 'Polyphony,' in the Bakhtinian sense, encourages a dynamic, dialogical interplay of voices, viewpoints, and ideologies. Different perspectives, positions, politics. Different values, ethics, aesthetics. Multiple forms, multiple disciplines, even multiple identities. While ‘Speculation' alludes to what we don't know about the future, the present, or the past, here it recognises plurality in the rich histories of speculative design research, multiple interpretations of the present, and a multiplicity of possible futures. As a practical apparatus, Green et al (2023) refer to Polyphonic Speculation as, “a tool for collectively speculating in relation to complex challenges, through a process of speculative design, dialogue and reflection”, or more generally, “dialogue between design researchers speculating through design on a common topic.” Yet it is a nascent concept. ‘Polyphonic Speculation’ is open to being operationalised as a tool for Reflection and (Re)imagination, or for imaginative dialogue around themes of Resistance and Recovery and beyond. We invite a broad range of contributions, from critical engagement with underlying concepts of polyphony and/or speculation, to examples of work that intersects with existing notions of polyphony and/or speculation. Submissions to this track might include: Resistance to existing conceptualisations of polyphonic speculation. Reflections on the parameters of polyphony in the context of speculative design. Examples of polyphonic speculation(s) in practice. Critical perspectives that (re)imagine the polyphonic landscape(s) of Design Research. Perspectives on how polyphonic and/or speculative design can help galvanise resistance or recovery.
Keywords
polyphony, speculative design, poetics, ways of seeing
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.132
Citation
Green, D.P., Bofylatos, S., Dore, M., and Ranner, V. (2024) Polyphonic Speculations, in Gray, C., Ciliotta Chehade, E., Hekkert, P., Forlano, L., Ciuccarelli, P., Lloyd, P. (eds.), DRS2024: Boston, 23–28 June, Boston, USA. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.132
Creative Commons License
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Conference Track
Research Paper
Included in
Polyphonic Speculations
'Polyphonic Speculations' unites plurality and possibility; two powerful concepts for Design Research. 'Polyphony,' in the Bakhtinian sense, encourages a dynamic, dialogical interplay of voices, viewpoints, and ideologies. Different perspectives, positions, politics. Different values, ethics, aesthetics. Multiple forms, multiple disciplines, even multiple identities. While ‘Speculation' alludes to what we don't know about the future, the present, or the past, here it recognises plurality in the rich histories of speculative design research, multiple interpretations of the present, and a multiplicity of possible futures. As a practical apparatus, Green et al (2023) refer to Polyphonic Speculation as, “a tool for collectively speculating in relation to complex challenges, through a process of speculative design, dialogue and reflection”, or more generally, “dialogue between design researchers speculating through design on a common topic.” Yet it is a nascent concept. ‘Polyphonic Speculation’ is open to being operationalised as a tool for Reflection and (Re)imagination, or for imaginative dialogue around themes of Resistance and Recovery and beyond. We invite a broad range of contributions, from critical engagement with underlying concepts of polyphony and/or speculation, to examples of work that intersects with existing notions of polyphony and/or speculation. Submissions to this track might include: Resistance to existing conceptualisations of polyphonic speculation. Reflections on the parameters of polyphony in the context of speculative design. Examples of polyphonic speculation(s) in practice. Critical perspectives that (re)imagine the polyphonic landscape(s) of Design Research. Perspectives on how polyphonic and/or speculative design can help galvanise resistance or recovery.