Radical Intimacies: Designing Non-Extractive Relationalities

This book explores the radical potentials of design by the global Memefest network, investigating capitalist domination and resistance through dialogue, power, land, interventions, and radical praxis. It connects frameworks on (de)colonization with the work of Memefest, a global network of people interested in social change through radical design. Contributors are interested in design that operates outside the dominant social orders, imagines and builds new worlds and social relations, and is for academics, artists, designers, and activists.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 10 February 2023
Publisher: Intellect Books

This book delves into the profound implications of design in shaping the dynamics of capitalist dominance and the resistance against it. Spanning five comprehensive sections, it explores the realms of dialogue, power, land, interventions, and radical praxis, offering a comprehensive examination of the multifaceted aspects of this critical subject. Curated by Vodebs, the chapters within this volume engage in radical intimacies with design, establishing a profound connection between it and media, communication, and art. Radical intimacies signify a close relationship with the world that is shaped by our interconnectedness, aiming to decolonize knowledge and revitalize the public sphere. This closeness is inherently political, as it involves qualities that challenge and undermine the extractive relationalities imposed by capitalism.

Radical Intimacies serves as a bridge between frameworks on (de)colonization and the pioneering work of Memefest, a global network dedicated to fostering social change through radical design. Comprising a diverse range of original written and visual contributions from across the globe, this collection brings together academics, practitioners, social movements, and adventurous professionals. The book explores design as a central domain of thought and action, concerned with the interpretation and creation of sociocultural life. Contributors are passionate about design that transcends conventional boundaries, challenging narrow disciplines and exploitative paradigms, and envisioning and constructing new worlds and social relations.

This inter/ extradisciplinary collection is designed to appeal to a wide audience, including academics, artists, designers, activists, and those seeking to explore the intersections between design, arts, and social change. Students enrolled in design, art, media, and communication programs with an interest in social transformation will find this book particularly valuable. Additionally, higher-level undergraduate and graduate students will find it an insightful resource for their studies.

It is important to note that this book contains content that may be sensitive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Weight: 770g
Dimension: 172 x 229 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789386554
Edition number: New ed