Abstract
Human activity has altered our planet to the extent that scientists have declared a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene, or the age of humans. Drawing on critical design (Malpass, 2017) and discursive design (Tharp and Tharp, 2018), this paper presents a design project inquiring into the UN´s SDG no. 15: ‘Life on land’ and the recent IPBES rapport (United Nations, 2019) of how species extinctions accelerate, with grave impacts on people. Invasive, imported plants displace more vulnerable, native plants and disturb local biodiversity in Norway and globally. Visual design itself does not solve the vast problem of changing conditions on our planet or species extinction, but design may have the authority to inform and engage people through critical imageries and visual storytelling, leading to engagement, commitment and action. The paper discusses critical and discursive design through a design project in which invasive and endangered species are juxtaposed and visualizes the specific deficiency created. Design activism, where visual design interact with the local community is an important part of the project. The growing problem of plant extinction due to human activity is illuminated through visual design and the role of visual communication is analyzed based on theories of critical and discursive design.
Presenters
Margaret RynningProfessor, School of Art, Design, and Media, Kristiania University College, Oslo, Norway
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2020 Special Focus - Advocacy in Design: Engagement, Commitment, and Action
KEYWORDS
Biodiversity in Norway, Communication design, Discursive design, Species extinctions
