Annotations and conversations

In my own personal research, I borrow from non-design literature and reflect about the non-designers’ perspective about a theme or concept I might be interested in. Most of my discussion and reflection happen originally between the literature and I (a one way communication, I guess). When the conversation extends, it is usually among a group of designer colleagues. Valuable, yes. However, if I try a little bit harder, the conversation can also happen with the non-designers whose opinions I value but often have trouble having access to. When it does happen, it is mostly through email; a medium that has certain affordances.

A setting such as a conference, however, has different affordances and supports instant, real-time one-on-one conversations about anything one wishes to talk about with other attendees. From a personal perspective, a conference takes it to the next level when it is also gathers attendees and presenters from different fields that hold contrasting or comparative perspectives about the larger theme being discussed.

After absorbing two intense days of panels, sessions and keynote presentations at the Power2Empowerment conference organized by the University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design faculty, I felt pleased and satisfied by the overall structure of the event. Most importantly, I was thrilled by quality of conversation happening among the diverse and international population of presenters and attendees—from Design, Anthropology, Neuroscience, Law, Photography, Education and Visual Culture among others. I applaud the effort to bring design and non-design fields together to start a conversation about issues we are all interested in.

I often feel dissatisfied when I attend design conferences…Typically, design conferences are populated with design educators, practitioners and sometimes students. This demographic represents only one side of the story; important demographic of course, but a limited one.

If and because there needs to be a shift in the way design is being taught; because of the need for more interdisciplinary collaborations between designers and the other fields, it is important to include these other fields in the conversations happening at design conferences…It is important for designers to participate in conversation happening at non-design conferences so we can collaborate towards change. 

Power2Empowerment to me was a step towards this interdisciplinary collaboration and conversation and I cannot wait for the next one. I cannot wait to be a new design faculty and part of the committee that can and will make this happen again at theUniversity of North Texas. I look forward to being a voice in encouraging, enhancing and reinforcing the need for interdisciplinarity at other design conferences.