Special Issue: CoDesign: Intersections of Co-Design and Actor-Network Theory (March 2014)

Deadline for intention to contribute: 17 March 2014
Website: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ncdn
Details: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/cfp/ncdncfp.pdf

Special Issue of CoDesign – International Journal of CoCreation in Design and the Arts: Designing Things Together: Intersections of Co-Design and Actor-Network Theory

Guest editors: Cristiano Storni, Dagny Stuedahl, Thomas Binder and Per Linde.

In this call, we acknowledge the emergence of an interesting space at the intersection of co-design and Actor-Network Theory (ANT), especially as design research is confronted with increasingly complex issues such as sustainability, social responsibility, inclusion and democracy; and new approaches such as design activism, design participation, and social and participatory innovation.  The influence of Science and Technology Studies (STS) on design research has a long history and it is still enjoying a great deal of attention (Hanset et al, 2004; Ingram et al, 2007; Woodhouse and Patton, 2004). Through the establishment of pioneering work in various disciplines such as architecture (Yaneva, 2008), participatory design (Ehn, 2008), human-computer interaction (DiSalvo, 2012), user-centred design (Steen, 2012), critical design (Ward and WIlkie, 2010) some design scholars have already started to explore this ‘coming together’ of theoretical thinking and design practices where different traditions, approaches and people meet. The interest is mutual and while some STS scholars have started to appreciate design as a key concern (Latour, 2008a,b, 2013; Yaneva, 2009; Storni, 2012), the more activist wing of STS are looking at design to extend and re-think the impact of social research (Woodhouse et al, 2002; Venturini, 2010). As technology is becoming ubiquitous and pervasive, and design is increasingly recognized as a driving force for social change, approaches that draw on both STS (conceptually equipped to deal with socio-techno-scientific issues), and design (methodologically equipped to intervene in such issues) are of increasing importance.

In this context, we are interested in exploring, mapping and more systematically investigating approaches emerging from exchanges in which ANT (as well as related STS approaches such as post-phenomenology, feminist and post-colonial studies) and co-design become mutually relevant. Indeed, participatory and collaborative design has a long tradition of focusing on the politics of design, the methods, tools and techniques used for democratic design, and the nature of participation (Kensing and Blomberg, 1998). These concerns seem to be shared by recent developments in ANT (e.g. Latour, 2004, 2008a,b) to further affirm that this emerging area is worth exploring and mapping.

In this call, we aim to create an opportunity for exchange and reflection on the interesting intersections between ANT and co-design. We seek theoretical discussions as well as empirical case studies carried out using methodologies underpinning the ANT approach.  We seek reflections, connections and mutual influences; we seek new questions, a forward-looking attitude and constructive critical analysis.

Specific topics may include but are not limited to:
ANT as a conceptual framework for participatory design and co-design
ANT and material-semiotic/relational perspectives on design; Design, dasein, (post-)phenomenology and ANT;