Abstract
This paper argues for the value of sustained exploration of theoretical work and practices from diverse perspectives on the margins of dominant systems, such as radical Black and feminist thought; Indigenous research scholars; queer theorists; modernity/coloniality scholars from the Global South; and critical design practitioners speaking from situated place. Reading, engaging, and extending this work assists with recognising common ways in which we and those around us think, work, and relate to others which accommodate dominant, oppressive systems. This includes recognising ingrained white saviorism, compulsion for efficiency, linear and task-oriented collaboration and deep-seated regard for institutional recognition. Beyond recognition, there are important lessons with immediate and everyday applications in direct relationship with practice. In this paper I will briefly address the idea of theory as an active and liberatory practice and share an example from my practice of noticing theory integrated into everyday design practices. There is a need for ongoing work to address the persistent challenges of working with and embracing theory in design. Recognising one’s positionality to this work reveals and mitigates hubristic biases of how ‘design’ might dismantle and create alternatives. This paper describes the wealth offered by critical theory from the margins, as seen from a dominant positionality, and ways of engaging critical knowledges to support and challenge design research and practice.
Keywords
Theory, positioning, social practice
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/pluriversal.2021.0010
Citation
Mcentee, K.(2021) An Abundance of Tools: Attention and care with theory, in Leitão, R.M., Men, I., Noel, L-A., Lima, J., Meninato, T. (eds.), Pivot 2021: Dismantling/Reassembling, 22-23 July, Toronto, Canada. https://doi.org/10.21606/pluriversal.2021.0010
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Included in
An Abundance of Tools: Attention and care with theory
This paper argues for the value of sustained exploration of theoretical work and practices from diverse perspectives on the margins of dominant systems, such as radical Black and feminist thought; Indigenous research scholars; queer theorists; modernity/coloniality scholars from the Global South; and critical design practitioners speaking from situated place. Reading, engaging, and extending this work assists with recognising common ways in which we and those around us think, work, and relate to others which accommodate dominant, oppressive systems. This includes recognising ingrained white saviorism, compulsion for efficiency, linear and task-oriented collaboration and deep-seated regard for institutional recognition. Beyond recognition, there are important lessons with immediate and everyday applications in direct relationship with practice. In this paper I will briefly address the idea of theory as an active and liberatory practice and share an example from my practice of noticing theory integrated into everyday design practices. There is a need for ongoing work to address the persistent challenges of working with and embracing theory in design. Recognising one’s positionality to this work reveals and mitigates hubristic biases of how ‘design’ might dismantle and create alternatives. This paper describes the wealth offered by critical theory from the margins, as seen from a dominant positionality, and ways of engaging critical knowledges to support and challenge design research and practice.