Burning approaches to tensing the present: a new political dimension of design

The contribution presents a preliminary reflection on the nature of design in our “post-political” scenario. It argues that design increasingly embraces critical thinking and antagonistic practices to push on social reality and bring about change. The document explores theoretical reconfigurations of design drawing on the ideas of contemporary thinkers and examines case studies of critical-making approaches that support the proposed critical framework. The primary objective of the contribution is to uphold the inherently political nature of design. It underscores the significance of “disagreement” as a foundation for the project. The investigation calls for critical thinking and the necessary process of “decolonization” within the field of design. The overall argument advocates for a political design that embraces dissent, criticality, and speculation, intending to reshape the boundaries of the discipline and address the crises and conflicts of our time.