Citizen Designer Perspectives on Design Responsibility.
2003
Dinner at Megan’s House
Megan: Welcome artists. I invited you all to dinner so we can connect and hopefully have some insightful conversations. I'll introduce who we have in the room with us. To my right, we have Teresita Fernandez. She’s well known for her public sculptures and unconventional use of materials. She likes to explore the interaction between nature and human intervention. Next, we have Thomas Hirschhorn. He created interactive installation art dedicated to philosophers and he’s known for his empowerment of marginalized communities through his art. Lastly, we have Chris Riley. He’s a strategist working at powerhouse advertising agencies like Wieden+Kennedy and works with clients like Uniqlo. He’s known for his commitment to pushing brands to be more ethical, sustainable, and authentic. The butlers are passing around the appetizers and while we’re waiting for the main course, let’s all say what we’re passionate about?
Chris: Sure, I’ll start. Thanks Megan for the introduction. I want to create a positive future for our children. I’m passionate about the roles of companies in today’s society and push them to use their influence to become a positive force in the world.
Thomas: I don’t have kids, but that still sounds cool I guess. Hey guys, I’m Thomas and I believe that intellectual discourse and knowledge shouldn’t be limited to privileged groups. I believe in the transformative power of philosophy and art in provoking these intellectual discussions and empowering communities.
Teresita: Wow, okay that’s impressive. I’m Teresita and I’m passionate about the environment and nature and viewing it not as a static or separate identity, but as a dynamic and interconnected force. I like to explore and deepen my own intimate and emotional relationship with the land and inviting others to be curious and see it in a different way
Thomas: Hmm. Hey Megan, I’m finding a hard time understanding what we have in common. She’s an environmental hippie and he’s a businessman.
Megan: Hey, trust the process, the conversation just started. Perfect timing, the main course is out! I guess we can jump straight into the meat of the conversation. Chris, can you talk about your views on brands?
Chris: Of courses, I can talk about brands all day every day. I believe brands can do and be better. There’s this lack of imagination, creativity and responsibility keeping these brands from creating real value and positive change. Traditional brand strategies revolve around creating artificial benefits or portray the consumer as needing fixing. But we’re entering the age of consumer sovereignty and these methods aren’t effective or ethical, or sustainable for the corporation.Designers grew up recognizing that promises made by corporations are shallow and that there’s always an ulterior motive for everything. They want consumers to keep consuming and even it doesn’t align with their interests or wants. I want to challenge this narrative and empower designers to redefine consumer and brand relationship and evolve it into something that truly satisfies human wants and needs.
Megan: Thank you Chris. Next up, Thomas. Can you tell me about your Gramsci Monument and your intent or goals for the project?
Thomas: Sure. I believe marginalized and economically disadvantaged communities can break free from their limiting narratives. Equipped with critical thinking skills, it changes the way someone views the world and their role in it. The ability to articulate and defend your thoughts builds confidence and agency to shape their own lives and advocate for their interests. By questioning dominant power structures and hegemony, these communities can challenge and deconstruct oppressive systems. It’s important to bring people together to engage in open dialogue and foster an environment where members of the community can challenge each other's thinking and engage with different perspectives. The root causes of the challenges these communities faced can be difficult to tackle as an individual, but collectively as a group, what’s where the strength lies.
Megan: Awesome, Thank you for sharing. Teresita?
Teresita: Okay Megan, I’m starting to see why you put us together now. Ill start off by saying that I find both Chris and Thomas’s perspectives on using art to implement change truly inspiring. We all share a common passion in redefining and challenging existing narratives. I work to challenge conventional perceptions of the environment and reimagine how we perceive and interact with the world. As artists, we embark on journeys of exploration and curiosity, not solely but the pursuit of external success and praise but by the need to delve into the unknown and discover what lies belong to the surface. When I talk with young artists, I remind them that the traditional ideas of success can be superficial and measured externally, but the true value of art lies in its ability to provoke thoughts, challenge perception, and create profound connections with the world around us. It’s fascinating to see the different ways we use art to create such authentic and meaningful change . So Thomas, we are artists not environmental hippies or a businessman…Megan you’ve been quiet, how are you doing over
Megan: Honestly, that was a lot of information and I have a lot of emotions. I’m really inspired by all three of you, but I’m really overwhelmed trying to do something this impactful in my own art career. Chris, I’m looking into becoming a strategist just like you! You said you focus on empowering designers to reshape the consumer and brand relationship. How exactly are we supposed to do that?
Chris: Good question. I believe the secret is to listen. Listen to your target audience. Take a step back from the creative brief your client gave you. On it, they typically write what they want the consumer to desire. But do your own research, interviews, and really listen to figure out what the target audience actually desires.
Megan: Ah okay thanks, I get it. Thomas, I see how dedicated you are to connecting marginalized communities with resources and fostering open dialogue. Where I find it gets tricky is viewing the target audience as somehow dysfunctional and needing to be “fixed” by a company with lots of money or an individual with privilege and resources to share. How did you approach these communities that you set up your installations?
Thomas: Okay, so I’ll first say that I believe all communities and peoples can benefit from participating in a space that fosters open dialogue. Before my Gramsci Monument in 2013, I did multiple temporary installations in Amsterdam, Berlin, and Paris. With those, the space was open to anyone and everyone regardless of background or status. But yes, I had to approach the Gramsci Monument project differently. Each of my projects revolved around the ideas and the legacy of the philipospher it was dedicated to. Antonio Gramsci was an Italian Marxist known and we grounded our conversation in his theories on cultural hegemony and the role of intellectuals in a society. I also put a large emphasis on involving and partnering with the local community in the creating and maintenance of the project. They have agency and ownership over their environment and the dialogues that take place within.
Teresita: I think you handled that situation well and I’d like to bounce off of that. Thomas was only able to approach a project like that because he had 20+ years of experience creating installations and using philosophy to provoke intellectual discussions. I'm guessing along the way, he made mistakes but he became better, stronger, and smarter. Megan, remember the importance of nurturing meaningful relationships and being gracious to everyone you meet. As you embark on your artistic journey, embrace the process of exploration, curiosity, and unlearning. You will make mistakes, but don’t view them as setbacks, but opportunities for transformation. I know that might sound overly optimistic, but trust us. The three of us struggled and made mistakes but continued to evolve and explore. That’s what got us to where we’re at.
Chris: Beautifully said. If I were to give one piece of advice you can take and run with now, it would be to think and think a lot.
Teresita: Yes, I agree. Think about the things that make you feel scared, vulnerable, or intrigued. Think about what others are saying and what they believe. Turn over all the rocks and discover what’s underneath. Have fun and be curious. Don’t be too hard on yourself and allow yourself to grow and evolve. Look around you and be aware of how things around you are also growing and evolving.
Tomas: And enjoy your youth. Next thing you know, you’re going to blink and realize that the next wave of change makers are already making their debut. Best of luck out there, I know you’ll do great things.
Megan: Thanks guys. I’ll take a second to sort through all this advice and apply it, but I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. You guys are incredible.
*this is a fake conversation and these people in fact did not have dinner at Megan’s house. She also does not have a butler, it was added for dramatic effect.
