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 research-in-progress and all things Artificial.
Taking place on the final weekend of Design Researchers in Residence: Artificial (17 June – 21 September 2025), this event brings together the four current residents – Christie Swallow, Hani Salih, Laura Lebeau and Neba Sere – for a live conversation reflecting on their work and the wider themes of the residency.
Since joining the programme in October 2024, the cohort has been developing projects in response to this year’s theme, Artificial, culminating in the current display. This closing event is an opportunity to explore their research further and to reflect on our collective understanding of what is natural and what is artificial.
Design Researchers in Residence is Future Observatory’s programme for emerging design researchers hosted at the Design Museum. Future Observatory is a national programme for design research supporting the UK’s response to the climate emergency. It is coordinated by the Design Museum in partnership with the UKRI Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
Speakers
Christie Swallow, Design Researcher in Residence 2024/25
Christie Swallow is an artist and designer who crafts new stories from old ideas. Their work engages with how the Anthropocene’s separation of humans and non-humans produced our planetary crisis. Through counter mapping, their practice engages with ecology, technoscience and heterodoxy. Christie has undertaken residencies at the European Commission, the University of Birmingham and Hanger CIA.
Hani Salih, Design Researcher in Residence 2024/25
Hani Salih is a researcher, writer and curator who works at the edges of many disciplines, practices, and ideas; connecting the dots. These interests are grounded in critical spatial thinking, stemming from his background in architecture. Further studies at the LSE led to an interest in systems and the infrastructures that shape our lives. Hani is a curator and moderator at De Dépendance in Rotterdam and was formerly Co-Curator of the International Architecture Biennial in Rotterdam (2024) and Senior Researcher at The Quality of Life Foundation.
Laura Lebeau, Design Researcher in Residence 2024/25
Laura Lebeau is an industrial designer working across objects, tech, and speculative design. Her work focuses on imagining radical sustainability strategies for the future of consumer electronics, as well as experimenting beyond the expected aesthetics of technology. Laura has a Master’s in Industrial Design from the Strate School of Design. She spent five years at Map Project Office and is currently a Senior Designer at BLOND.
Neba Sere, Design Researcher in Residence 2024/25
Neba Sere is a spatial practitioner advocating for diversity and inclusion in architecture. She is an associate professor at The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL, where her research focuses on decolonisation and decarbonisation. Neba co-leads decosm with Umi Lovecraft and is the Co-Director of Black Females in Architecture. Her previous roles include Senior Project Officer with the GLA's Regeneration Team and leading youth projects at Build Up Foundation.
Abbie Adams, Future Observatory Curator
Abbie Adams is a curator and designer working at the intersection of research, ecology, and culture. She is currently Future Observatory curator at the Design Museum, where she curates exhibitions, residencies, and commissions research that explores sustainable futures through design practice.
