Future Artifacts

This​ ​studio class​ ​investigates​ ​the​ ​idea​ ​of​ ​artifacts,​ ​defined​ ​by​ ​archeologists​ ​as​ ​anything​ ​made​ ​or​ ​modified​ ​by​ ​humans. We will look at the time/ place/ ways in which daily objects were made and consider their lasting role in our lives today to design our own future artifacts. As we explore and understand the material choices and use of an object through history, we will begin designing for our preferred futures- imminent or far reaching- in which we may want objects to disappear altogether, or, conversely, be valued and cherished forever. In an era of great change, we will ask ourselves: How do we want to move forward? We will examine the criteria for value in context and utilize that knowledge to design our own, wished-for futures, informed by the objects around us and our historical knowledge of what has survived. Throughout​ ​our​ ​design​ ​investigations,​ ​we​ ​will​ ​be​ ​focusing​ ​on​ ​finding​ ​our​ ​voices​ ​as​ ​designers​ by ​understanding​ ​research​ ​methodologies​ ​and​ ​developing​ ​fast​ ​+​ ​slow​ ​daily​ ​practices to​ ​help​ ​us​ ​better​ ​explore,​ ​make​, ​and​ ​realize​ ​our​ ​ideas.

This curriculum was co-created with my design collaborator and partner in teaching, Shoham Arad. Thanks to the NYC Archaeological Repository for hosting our students year after year.