NL

Designing with uncertainty

‘How to design in an era marked by fundamental uncertainty?’

Designer and HKU lecturer Simona Kicurovska investigates how digital automatisation technologies (algorithms / AI) are transforming the field of graphic design. She questions what designers can still do; what cannot be programmed in digital design systems. Her research is aimed at ‘designerly ways of knowing' that contribute to socially responsible (or socially response-able) engagement in times of automated algorithmic design.
"Synchronized swimming" based on a series of prompts. Collective performative encounter during "There is no knowledge, only encounters", hands-on symposium on not-knowing organized by T.S. Anna, Simona Kicurovska, Kevin Perrin and Adri Schokker (Artistic Research Community in the North, Groningen) with Emma Cocker (UK), Ernest Truely (US/FIN) and Lua Vollard (NL). November 2022. Image (film still): VidAmir.

Designing with uncertainty

In a time marked by automatisation, design decisions are increaslingly embedded in algorhythms and data-driven AI's that are too complex to be understood by non-experts. The challenge for the educational sector is to not only train designers in understanding the technique, but also in the analytical and critical skills that are necessary for designing in such a context of fundamental uncertainty. Designer also need to understand the social and ecological consequences of the products they are developing. Therefore, this project is aimed at improving these critical capabilities of graphic designers who are working with data-driven systems, teaching them to work in co-creation on an environment that enables responsible use of design products by both designers and citizens.

Designing with uncertainty is an ‘artistic research PhD’ in which HKU collaborates with the University of Humanistic Studies to make promotion research projects possible.

Partners

HKU University of the Arts Utrecht (HKU), University of Humanistic Studies.

Lecturing researcher HKU

Simona Kicurovska is a teacher of Graphic Design at HKU – School of Media.