Investigative design: Materiality, systems, critique

What is commonly called " Design " has traditionally focused on communication, problem solving, or aesthetics applied in commercial contexts—according to Bratton (2016a), the means by which our " pathological relationships to material culture are made more efficient and more delightful. " Rittel and Webber (1973) argued that many of the problems addressed by designers are " wicked problems " , but Bratton proposes that many such problems, now global in scale, are the product of Design, and that " the job of Design in the 21st century is to undo (much of) the Design of 20th. " How can designers address global-scale wicked problems without turning them into design projects that value aesthetics over commitment? In this paper I detail strategies used in our design education and research. We use, but also question, design as a process and profession, redefining and subverting it, focusing on materiality and systems. I illustrate with examples from recent graduates.