How does design contribute to building a democratic culture?

June 7, 2017, at 18:00 on the Nusle Stairs in Prague (COLridor)

Birger Sevaldson: Design for Democracy and Sustainability

We are experiencing fundamental unrest in the world; democratic values are at stake, people are fleeing their homes, from wars. Many nations are moving towards democracy, but it is a cumbersome path forward. Even established democracies have problems, which we can see in the European Union and the United States. Norway is no exception when it comes to participation and accountability of voters and citizens as a whole. Democratic systems characterized by short-term perspectives with the complexity of their processes make it difficult for citizens to adopt long-term intentions and call for participation. Local democracy is underdeveloped compared to the fundamental challenges that communities face. These challenges range from sustainable to economic development and integration. On the other hand, design has a long tradition in developing processes from a democratic perspective. Design processes that are open to all without distinction and participatory design are examples of this. Moreover, designers have been involved in democracy through the design of electoral systems and distribution of information for a long time. Nevertheless, Design for Democracy can be further developed. Can we, through design, predict and explain a future that supports a balanced distribution of power, values, and resources? Can we participate in building a democratic culture and reducing barriers to participation in democratic processes? Can we design processes that facilitate long-term perspectives and thus support sustainable development? Can we, through the design of our environment, contribute to the birth of democratic organizations? The lecture will discuss some perspectives on design for democracy and present current experiments in conscious democracy created at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design.

Birger Sevaldson is a professor at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design and a member of the OCEAN Design Research Association. He is trained as an interior architect and furniture designer, but in practice, he operates in a broader field of design, including architecture and interior design, furniture design, industrial design, and art. He holds a PhD in creativity in computer-aided design and has been researching systemic thinking in design for the past ten years. He is a key figure in the development of the Systems Oriented Design direction, and his research aims to develop systemic design thinking and practice to address the increasing challenges of globalization and the need for sustainability. Birger publishes on a variety of topics, including Systems Oriented Design, creativity, and research by design.

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