Situated Design Practices
Last updated
Last updated
Our first session of the course took us on an enriching bicycle excursion through the Llobregat Delta, a space where history, community, and nature intersect in fascinating ways. The Delta, located near Barcelona's airport, revealed itself as a vibrant yet fragile ecosystem full of stories and challenges.
We began with a visit to Jaume, a local farmer whose personal history mirrors the dramatic transformations of the region. He shared how the agricultural lands that once fed Barcelona were drastically reduced due to the redirection of the river and the port expansion. These changes displaced many farming families, but Jaume has preserved the area’s heritage through a small museum in his home. With artifacts like old tools and carriages, he honors the region's agrarian past, even as it faces potential threats like the proposed airport expansion, which could erase its natural spaces.
After harvesting fresh vegetables from Jaume’s fields, we headed to Cal Negre, a collective farmhouse with a thriving artistic and ecological community. There, we learned about their practices, such as Maria’s use of local clay to create ceramics. Over a meal of locally sourced rice and vegetables, we discussed how the collective merges art, sustainability, and community. A falconer also joined us, explaining his unique role in training hawks to keep birds away from airport runways, a fascinating intersection of tradition and yet modern necessity.
The excursion continued to the natural reserve of the Delta, a stunning protected area filled with diverse bird species and serene beaches. However, this tranquility was juxtaposed with the constant roar of planes overhead, a stark reminder of the tension between natural preservation and urban development.
The trip left me with a deep appreciation for the Delta’s complexity and a commitment to integrating these lessons into my design practice. This place, with its fragile ecosystems and resilient communities, is a reminder of the responsibility designers have to advocate for sustainable and equitable futures.
Hibai Arbide, a journalist based in Lesvos, Greece, shared insights into the harsh realities of borders and migration. He described the conditions in refugee camps on Greek islands like Lesvos, as well as larger camps on the mainland, which often become makeshift cities. Refugees endure dangerous sea crossings and face pushbacks that violate their rights, depending largely on luck to reach safety.
Hibai highlighted the long bureaucratic process to obtain residency papers, forcing refugees to survive with minimal resources while waiting for an uncertain future. He also discussed the implementation of invasive surveillance technologies in some camps, including drones and AI, which monitor emotions and gatherings, often treating refugees as experimental subjects.
Finally, he emphasized the damaging role of borders in Europe, contrasting them with the nomadic Tuareg, who exist without national affiliations. Through his documentation, Hibai seeks to expose these injustices and advocate for more humane approaches.
At Foc, we learned about the space’s evolution since its founder, Víctor, acquired and transformed it into a vibrant cultural hub with a radio station, artist residencies, and a performance floor for events and gatherings. The Jokkoo Collective shared how they started to represent African music authentically, contrasting with the predominantly white representation in local venues at the time. During the visit, we recorded sounds around the space, later using them in Ableton to create compositions, emphasizing the importance of free experimentation and collective expression in such environments.
The day concluded with a listening session of some of their musical creations, which was eye-opening. It challenged preconceived notions about African music, showing that it’s not just about traditional drums but also rich in electronic rhythms that transcend cultural stereotypes. This experience expanded our musical horizons and highlighted the power of sound as a tool for connection and self-expression.
What stood out most to me was his absolute commitment to his artistic identity. Regardless of the ethical concerns surrounding his work, he has built a business that aligns with his personality and values, showing that staying true to yourself is key in artistic practice. While his detached stance on responsibility raises questions, his ability to navigate internet culture and cultivate a cult following is undeniable. It reinforced the importance of creating without compromise and carving out a space where self-expression isn’t diluted by external pressures.
We visited the facilities of , guided by the , a collective founded eight years ago to explore and promote alternative African electronic music. Before arriving, we met at Plaça Espanya and walked through Montjuïc towards the Zona Franca, learning about the area’s transformation, from the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition to the 1992 Olympic Games, when neighborhoods in Montjuïc were dismantled to present a modern image of the city, displacing residents to areas like Zona Franca, now affected by port expansion and social challenges.
Ben Ditto’s talk gave us a fascinating look into his unconventional journey: from dropping out of school at 16 to immersing himself in rave culture, fetish work, and eventually, the Royal College of Art. Instead of choosing the easy path with a stable, high-paying job, he spent years building his own business, a reminder that success doesn’t always come quickly. His creative direction and unapologetic approach to storytelling have allowed him to create , an online community that pushes boundaries, discussing topics like war, violence, and internet subcultures in ways that others might avoid. He embraces shitposting and internet chaos, treating it as both entertainment and a legitimate practice, a perspective that is both intriguing and controversial.
