Making Trouble: Design and Material Activism

Making hacks into reality. It engages matter in ways that trespass the boundaries between the civic realm and the state-assigned laws. Even with primitive tools and skills, designing and making can break open and repurpose arrangements of power. This highly original book explores how the material power of design and making can challenge arrangements of agency and domination.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 10 March 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Making hacks into reality is a fascinating and controversial topic that pushes the boundaries between the civic realm and state-assigned laws. With primitive tools and skills, designing and making can break open and repurpose arrangements of power, as evidenced by the controversial nature of certain crafts such as lock-picking, moonshining, shoplifting, smuggling, and sabotage. When designers and makers venture into these contested realms, they often face trouble.

This highly original book delves into how the material power of design and making can challenge arrangements of agency and domination. It unpacks a series of conflicting cases, from illegal making to the strategic and civic use of crafts to manifest radical alternatives to the current order. Through these cases, the book demonstrates how designers and makers can use even basic tools to work towards more.

One of the key insights of the book is that design and making can be used as a form of resistance against dominant systems of power. By creating and sharing knowledge and skills, designers and makers can challenge the status quo and promote alternative ways of thinking and being. For example, the book discusses the case of the Maker Faire, a festival that celebrates DIY culture and encourages people to learn and share skills. The Maker Faire has grown to become a global movement, with events taking place in over 70 countries and attracting millions of attendees.

Another important aspect of the book is that design and making can be used to promote social and environmental justice. By creating products and services that address social and environmental issues, designers and makers can challenge the dominant economic and political systems that perpetuate inequality and environmental degradation. For example, the book discusses the case of the Open Hardware Movement, which promotes the use of open-source hardware and software to create affordable and accessible technology.

The book also highlights the importance of collaboration and community in the process of designing and making. By working together and sharing resources, designers and makers can create more powerful and effective solutions to complex problems. For example, the book discusses the case of the Occupy Movement, which was sparked by a group of designers and makers who came together to create a temporary community in response to economic inequality and social injustice.

In conclusion, Making Hacks into Reality is a thought-provoking and inspiring book that demonstrates the power of design and making to challenge arrangements of agency and domination. By exploring a series of conflicting cases and highlighting the potential of even basic tools, the book provides a roadmap for designers and makers to work towards a more just and sustainable world. Whether you are a designer, maker, or simply someone interested in social and political issues, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to make a difference in the world.

Weight: 398g
Dimension: 198 x 129 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350162556