A Foray Into Not-Quite Companion Species: Design Experiments With Urban-Animals as Significant Others

Abstract

This paper examines the project Urban Animals andUs as a journey -or foray -into the terrain vague between people and (other) animals with whom we share urban space. Through three design experiments developed around speculative prototypes and co-design tools, we attempt to bring "wild" urban animals like magpies and gulls into contact with the residents of a senior retirement home, to explore what new practices can arise between otherwise unconnected life-worlds. We expand the notion of companion species from philosopher of science Donna Haraway and begin to position the current project within a growing interest in animals in contemporary design research. Through analysis of the design experiments and the subsequent discussion, we argue that a foray into interspecies relations can inform the practical research agenda and help to re-articulate the dominant anthropocentricity of design research.

Design for Sustainability Transitions: Origins, Attitudes and Future Directions

“…For this purpose, DfS in general and DfST specifically can learn from feminist theory, animal studies, degrowth studies, post-humanist ethnography, political ecology and literature on the decolonising methodology. Some of this literature has been integrated into design though the contributions of pioneering work in recent years (see, e.g., [53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62]). There is an urgency to further explore the implications of this literature in design, and derive insights and lessons for the development of DfST theory and practice.…”

Postcards From “the Edge”: Toward Futures of Design for Sustainability Transitions

“…For this purpose, design in general, and Transition Design in particular, can learn from feminist theory, animal studies, post-humanist ethnography, political ecology, and literature on decolonizing methodology. Some of this literature has been integrated into design through the contributions of pioneering work in recent years (for example, Avila, 2017;Jönsson & Lenskjold, 2014;Schalk, Kristiansson, & Mazé, 2017;Tlostanova, 2017). Further exploring the implications of this literature in design and from it derive insights and lessons for the development of Transition Design theory and practice is urgently needed.…”

Prototipos especulativos y etnografías exógenas: experimentando con relaciones más allá de lo humano

“…Comenzaremos refiriéndonos brevemente al proyecto de investigación en diseño "Los animales urbanos y nosotros" (Jönsson & Lenskjold, 2014;Jönsson, 2014;Jönsson & Lenskjold, 2015;Lenskjold, 2015). El proyecto fue llevado a cabo por los autores en colaboración con un arquitecto, un diseñador de interacciones y los residentes y el personal de una casa de retiro en la ciudad de Elsinor, Dinamarca.…”

“…We begin by giving a brief account of the design research project, "Urban Animals and US" (Jönsson & Lenskjold, 2014;Jönsson, 2014;Jönsson & Lenskjold, 2015;Lenskjold, 2015). The project was carried out by the authors, in cooperation with an architect, an interaction designer and the residents and staff in a Danish retirement home in the city of Elsinore.…”