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Artificial: New display open
Artificial brings together the work of the 2024/25 cohort of Design Researchers in Residence. The projects featured in the display examine the perceived boundaries separating what is ‘natural’ and
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Artificial Guided Tour: Book your free ticket
Discover the work of the 2024/25 Design Researchers in Residence in this lunchtime tour of Artificial – a display of new design research responding to the climate crisis. Join Future Observatory
More than Human: Tickets on sale
A major exhibition bringing together art, science and radical thinking to ask how design can help our planet thrive by shifting its focus beyond human needs. Why has design traditionally only focused
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More-Than-Human Rights: Tickets on sale
Join Merlin Sheldrake, Robert MacFarlane, César RodrÃguez-Garavito and Elena Landinez for this conversation on More than Human and how science, law and storytelling can help us to reimagine the
Read the new publication
This publication features the work of the 2024/25 Design Researchers in Residence. It accompanies an exhibition staged at the Design Museum from June to September 2025. This year's theme, Artificial challenges the boundaries of human-centred thinking. It interrogates the structures, systems and values that have led to generations of human separation from and dominance over nature. Design Researchers in Residence is Future Observatory’s programme for emerging design researchers hosted at the Design Museum.
Authors:
Laura Lebeau, Neba Sere, Christie Swallow, Hani Salih, Abbie Adams & Leilah Hirson-Comley
Future Observatory Journal
Issue Nº2: More than Human
‘Rewilding benefits biodiversity, health and well-being’
In this interview, Justin Webb and Siân Moxon share how their Design Exchange Partnership is engaging Londoners with urban rewilding.
Pippy Stephenson
Earthly Memorials: São Paulo Terra IndÃgena
In this article, Paulo Tavares shares the development of a project that will serve as a tool to advocate for more-than-human rights on the Jaraguá Guarani Land in Sao Paulo, supporting the Guarani people’s ongoing struggle for reparation and land rights recognition. The work will feature in the More than Human exhibition at the Design Museum, opening in July 2025.
Author:
Paulo Tavares
More-Than-Human Rights Mural
In this article, César RodrÃguez-Garavito shares the development of the mural he has been working on with artist Elena Landinez. Representing many years of research into activism to protect the rights of rivers, the final work will be showcased in the More than Human exhibition at the Design Museum, opening in July 2025.
Author:
César RodrÃguez-Garavito
The Coast Is Not a Line, It's A Zone
In this research update, More-than-human Fellow Feifei Zhou, focuses on Kupang Bay in West Timor to examine traditional fishing practices threatened by coastal erosion and salt mining. The final piece will be showcased in the More than Human exhibition at the Design Museum, opening in July 2025.
Author:
Feifei Zhou
Tomorrow's Wardrobe
What is the future of fashion at a time of climate crisis? Discover the urgent research and innovation taking place to design a future for fashion that is both stylish and sustainable. Tomorrow's
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Artificial: In Conversation
Join the Artificial cohort of Design Researchers in Residence in conversation with Future Observatory Curator Abbie Adams, as they discuss designing for the green transition, exhibiting
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‘Natural Stone Shows Huge Potential to Reduce the Carbon-Footprint of Construction’
Cher Potter
‘Human health is inextricably linked to the health of the planet’
In the latest of our interviews with Future Observatory researchers, we would like to introduce you to Paul Rodgers and Mel Woods – co-Directors of Design HOPES (Healthy Organisation in a Place-based
Leilah Hirson-Comley
More-than-human thinking for multiple audiences
Understanding the potential of designing with and for other species and living systems feels like an urgent undertaking. That is why we adopted More than Human as an ongoing research theme for 2024-5 – one that runs across our grants funding, our publishing and our exhibition-making.
Author:
Justin McGuirk
meet the future observatory network
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Design Researchers in Residence 2024-25
More-than-human Fellowship 2024-25
Growing a Home, with Material Cultures
Recycling Colour, with Aida Rafat
Stone Age revival, with Amin Taha
Luxury from Landfill, with Elvis & Kresse
