multispecies design2
23.3.24 multispecies design2 the kunstgewerbemuseum as multispecies encounter?
The term »multispecies engagement« encompasses emerging trends from the humanities, natural and design sciences. These trends aim to include not only the needs of humans, but also the needs of other species such as plants, animals, insects, microorganisms or entire ecosystems in responsible design, research and innovation processes. This change forms the basis for a paradigm shift away from an anthropocentric and westernised understanding of nature towards cross-species forms of knowledge production. Humans are no longer seen as the dominant species, but as part of complex ecosystems.
This »multispecies turn« reflects the importance to no longer look at planetary challenges such as species extinction, rising temperatures and extreme weather events solely from a human perspective. The complexity of maintaining healthy ecosystems is high, and human knowledge and skills are limited. In fact, many aspects of life are still unexplored, especially those that are difficult for humans to grasp, such as microorganisms, insects or deep-sea inhabitants. Some species are in danger of becoming extinct before we discover them. The future of humanity is not dependent on technological progress, but on how we incorporate our environment into design and decision-making processes. This paradigm shift goes beyond environmental protection strategies: nature becomes a role model and teacher of valuable lessons in resilience, adaptation and creativity.
But how can we achieve such a paradigm shift in our daily behaviour?
Pioneers of this way of thinking are theorists such as Donna Haraway and Bruno Latour, who challenge the traditional separation between nature and culture and emphasise the complex and reciprocal interdependencies between humans, animals and the environment. Central approaches and methods from anthropology, such as the concept of »multispecies ethnography« by Eben Kirksey or Anna Tsing, enrich this discourse with inclusive methodological and theoretical foundations. They emphasise the inseparable connection between humans and nature and provide insights into the complex relationships. Cross-species collaboration is also discussed and understood in natural science and evolutionary research as a fundamental principle for the development and preservation of diverse ecosystems.
Symbioses between algae and fungi, collaboration between insects and plants through to the microorganisms in our gut – without collaboration, life on this planet would not be possible. Further approaches can also be found in political science discourses that emphasise the necessity of natural rights and are reflected in constitutional concepts such as »Sumac Kawsay« in Ecuador or the »Te Awa Tupua Act« in New Zealand.
The »Multispecies Engagement« approach is an invitation to build bridges between design discipline, science, politics, nature and society. Inspired by current participation strategies and public engagement initiatives, the concept argues in favour of expanding the concept of society to include non-human actors and establishing their inclusion as an ethical standard in socio-ecological knowledge production processes. It emphasises the need to include both human and non-human stakeholders in society-oriented innovation processes. In doing so, it emphasises the crucial role of design and design research as an extended form of knowledge production that brings together interdisciplinary knowledge, generates empathy and introduces a diversity of perspectives into application-oriented options for action.
These approaches are becoming increasingly important in design disciplines such as multispecies design, interspecies design and xeno design. While previous disciplines, such as inclusive design or social design, have shown the possibility of developing socially relevant solutions for complex challenges by involving experts from everyday life according to their needs (human centred design), multispecies approaches now pose the question of how non-human perspectives can also be taken into account in design processes.
workshop
Urban spaces have become an integral part of planetary ecosystems. Some species, such as foxes, adapt amazingly quickly to these structures and find new, unfamiliar habitats. At the same time, other species, especially insects, are being displaced by land sealing or invasion by other species and urgently need new habitats in the urban environment.
Cities are thus developing into a new form of urban wilderness and a more-than-human co-habitat. Although these spaces are predominantly designed according to human needs, in particular architectural and mobility requirements, in the long term there is little quality of life for people if the need for wild green and fallow land is hardly taken into account. These areas provide habitats worthy of protection for non-human city dwellers, who are a relevant part of this ecosystem. Against the backdrop of rising temperatures, the loss of biodiversity and the emergence of invasive species, the sustainable use of these spaces must be renegotiated.
Under the keyword »Conservation everywhere«, this workshop will focus on new environmental protection strategies that understand the structures of the Anthropocene, such as building façades, roofs, green spaces or wastewater systems, as a new, integral part of planetary ecosystems and scrutinise how these can be consciously used for future-oriented environmental protection. Nature and urban space are no longer in conflict here. Rather, these approaches open up a space for thought that invites us to speculate on how nature can be consciously integrated into everyday urban life and how different perspectives can be adopted. How can we design and share our living spaces not only for but also with non-human actors?
Workshop content / programme:
In this workshop, the Kunstgewerbemuseum itself becomes an object of exploration for multispecies design. Exploring the urban wilderness of the Kunstgewerbemuseum’s outdoor area, we invite you to speculate on the potential uses of these inconspicuous ecosystems for animals, plants, insects, fungi and microorganisms. The aim is to use creative methods from speculative design to formulate shared ideas, visions and critical questions that encourage reflection on museum spaces as multispecies meeting places.
- What potential do unused outdoor spaces of museum architecture offer for non-human actors?
- How can the museum become an »urban ark« for species threatened by climate change?
- What contribution does multispecies design make to the design and negotiation of species-appropriate habitats?
- What collaborations between urban society, culture, science and nature conservation can emerge here?
In addition, this workshop will provide a brief insight into why cities are such special habitats and what measures can be taken to make them more species-appropriate. Insights will be given into Berlin’s diverse wilderness and its non-human actors.
Participants do not need any specialist knowledge. The workshop is aimed at anyone enthusiastic about the interface between design, art, natural science and environmental protection and looking for inspiration to make their own practice or everyday life »more than human friendly«. Practical and methodological know-how on multispecies and speculative design practices will be shared and can be explored. The ideas generated in this workshop will become part of a pop-up exhibition as part of the »more than human« project (autumn 2024). The workshop invites for networking, collaboration and exchange.
Curator
Lynn Harles (Studio Harles, Berlin)
23.3. 2—5:30pm
Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin
courtyards and surroundings
Matthäikirchplatz, 10785 Berlin
Note: Most of the workshop will take place outside – weatherproof clothing and shoes are recommended.
Data protection notice: The event will be documented and published on the website