The River Speaks: Designing a Path for Action in the CapitaloceneCurriculum, Teaching Material
For years we have been separating our beings as humans from 'the nature'. The ways we articulate and design around the threats of climate change often maintain a dangerous distinction between environmental health and human existence. We act accordingly, separated by scales of time and cultural notions of the discrete elements of the earth. Considering the increasingly complicated relationship between humans and non-humans we saw a new space for design to address this inter-relational space.
This project, named "The River Speaks," by designer Melika Alipour Leili, is an innovative attempt to challenge traditional notions of the nonhuman and lay out a path for action in the Capitalocene. It consists of a set of lesson plans that prompt students to speculate on possible new definitions, institutions, perceptions, relationships, rituals, and technologies that might be needed in a reality that recognizes nonhuman agency. By reflecting on the cultural shifts that might occur, both positive and negative, students are encouraged to backcast onto our contemporary condition.
What sets "The River Speaks" apart is its focus on non-human centered design. It aims to initiate critical reflection of anthropocentric ethics and foster a more inclusive and ecocentric mindset. The project utilizes various teaching tools, including videos, custom designs, and newspapers from the future, to immerse students in these future worldviews and facilitate critical reflection.
In the midst of climate change, the project challenges the traditional human-centric approach and explores the existential value of a nonhuman-centered agenda. By using speculation and embedding it within human institutions, "The River Speaks" articulates alternate, preferable worlds in material form and suggests steps toward them. It seeks to challenge modern naturalism and investigate an ecology from other perspectives.
The design team, consisting of Melika Alipour Leili, Elena Habre, and Corey Chao, overcame creative, technical, and research challenges to bring "The River Speaks" to life. Their goal was to work towards a more inclusive and sustainable future by making tangible a world in which nonhuman agency is recognized differently.
"The River Speaks" was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in 2019 in the category of Public Awareness, Volunteerism, and Society Design. This prestigious award recognizes well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements. The project was commended for integrating industry best practices and competent technical characteristics, contributing to a better world.
Project Details and Credits
Project Designers: Melika Alipour Leili
Image Credits: Melika Alipour Leili, Elena Habre, Corey Chao
Project Team Members: Melika Alipour Leili, Elena Habre, Corey Chao
Project Name: The River Speaks
Project Client: Melika Alipour Leili