Week 14: Speculative & Critical Design Practice

Seminar One, Molly Wright Steenson
Carnegie Mellon, Fall 2017

This week’s reading was very, very thought provoking. I can only imagine if every seminar was like the comment section of the ‘Republic of Salivation’ reading…if only.

As a second year design masters student, I have been thinking about some of these comments myself. Oftentimes, it makes me feel empowered, other times discouraged by design. I will discuss more in the future.

However, a joyous finding occurred when I read through the debate. I learned about Michiko Nitta’s project called Body Modification for Love, which I found a really personal connection with.

• Paola Antonelli, “States of Design 04: Critical Design,” Domus 949 (July/August 2011).
• Debate that took place around the Republic of Salivation (Michael Burton and Michiko Nitta) project in the Design and Violence exhibition at MoMA. John Thackara expressed his outrage and sparked a debate about elitism, classism, anti-subalternism, north vs. south, racism, and more. This debate is also very much alive in our school.