Lifelines
Introduction
Lifelines, a portfolio of research projects exploring the micro-ethics of identity as constituted through design processes, is led by Sarah Kettley at the Edinburgh College of Art.
Lifelines is a simple material activity being used to explore how design practices align with philosophies of the person (eg psychodynamic, relational). Through variations on this creative brief, we are building a portfolio of research that is able to examine the micro-ethics of identity as constituted through design processes. These include:
- experiences of relational depth encountered by designers in collaboration with participants
- mechanisms of othering
- cultural attitudes to the individual
Denmark, 2017
By paying close attention to the ways in which individuals are heard and represented, we hope our work will support Design’s increasing involvement with health and welfare; the sector’s engagement with its own colonial heritage; and the navigation of tension between expressive authorship and user-centredness in the development of ‘smart’ material products and environments.
It is easy to try this activity for yourself. Create ten forms (about 7.5cm each) from any material, and attach them to a length of string at regular intervals. Each form should represent a significant point, situation, story or concern from your own life. These should be representative of you as a person, and related to your sense of who you are. Now try working with another person and represent each other. Discuss!
Project aims
The project aims to support Design’s reflexive:
- involvement with health and welfare
- engagement with its own colonial heritage
- navigation between expressive authorship and user-centredness in the development of ‘smart’ material products and environments
Project dates: 2017 – present
Outcomes & legacy
- Transformative experience for individual design researchers leading to improved processes for user involvement in orthotics co-design, Sahva, Denmark
- Model for transformational first-person education in design: new Wise Innovation course, EFI; Film Medicine, ECA/HiSS; Introduction to Body Studies, ECA
- Network of talks and workshops, eg: Design School Kolding, Denmark; Sadler Seminar Series, University of Leeds; Berlin University of the Arts and The Swedish School of Textiles; Nottingham School of Art and Design Research Lectures, Nottingham Trent University; Edinburgh Global Mental Health Network, University of Edinburgh; Northern Network for Medical Humanities Research, Durham University
- Development of relational design framework
The people involved
Sarah Kettley is Professor of Material and Design Innovation and Co-Chair of the RAFT research group at Edinburgh College of Art. Her areas of interest include research-through-design, craft as a design methodology, wearable technologies, tangible interfaces, digital jewellery, e-textiles, theory and methodology development, anthropologies of craft and design, participatory service design, the Person-Centred Approach as an ethical participatory design framework, and design for mental health and wellbeing.
She is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy, a founder member of the interdisciplinary Arcintex research network, and convenes the Design Research Society special interest group, tentSIG (tangible, embedded and networked technologies).
Partners included:
- Jivan Astfalck, BCU, UK
- Trine Møller and Josephine Winther, Design School Kolding, Denmark
- Mervin Qiwei Liu, ECA, UK
- Film Medicine research network (Amy Hardie, ECA)
Want to get involved in research with the Binks Hub?
If you've got an idea for a research project – or are already working on a research project – which you'd like to talk to the Binks Hub about, please just send us an email. We'd love to hear from you.