Tangible Means – Experiential Knowledge Through Materials (EKSIG 2015)

In recent years many creative disciplines have shifted focus from what is produced to why it is produced and how it is used. This includes a growing interest for combining craft traditions with design and other related issues such as sustainability.

As early as 1983 Schön defined designing “as a conversation with the materials of a situation” (Schön 1983: 78) and the designer as a maker of things even though it is acknowledged that the concept of design can be broader than ‘making things’. Also in the 1980s Manzini (1989: 17) pointed out a need for further development of cognitive tools and cultural references in order to catch up with the technical and scientific development of materials. Recently Karana et al. (2014) have expressed a need to study not only the functional but also the experiential side of materials. Thus, material knowledge is not only about ‘scientific’ facts such as functional and technical properties. It also encompasses personal, experiential, cultural, emotional, environmental and social aspects. In many disciplines, materials pervade all parts of practice, from the processes to the creation of artefacts and/or other kinds of physical manifestations and the interpretation through other professionals, such as curators, critics, historians etc.

With this conference, we wish to explore different ways in which experiential knowledge through materials can be given more appropriate consideration within the framework of research. This may include for example investigations into the nature, aims, validity, evaluation and/or necessity of different modes of communication and exchange.

References

Karana, E., Pedgley, O., & Rognoli, V. (2014) (eds.). Materials Experience: Fundamentals of Materials and Design. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Manzini, E. (1989). The Material of Invention: Material and Design. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.

Schön, D. (1983).The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action. London: Ashgate.

Tangible Means – Experiential Knowledge Through Materials is the International Conference 2015 of the Design Research Society Special Interest Group on Experiential Knowledge (EKSIG 2015) hosted by the Design School Kolding and the University of Southern Denmark, 25-26 November 2015.

(download conference proceedings)

Suggested Citation: Bang, A. L., Buur, J., Lønne, I. A. & Nimkulrat. N. (eds.) (2015). Tangible Means – Experiential Knowledge Through Materials: Proceedings of International Conference 2015 of the Design Research Society Special Interest Group on Experiential Knowledge (EKSIG 2015). Kolding, Denmark: Design School Kolding University of Southern Denmark.