Aisling McCallion

Brí: Designing for Ecological Solidarity

My master’s thesis is an exploration of the role of design in addressing climate change as the planet faces its sixth mass extinction. It is a discussion of values in relation to anthropocentric ways of being and making in a world that is more-than-human. The aim of the thesis is to explore what it could mean to design for ecological solidarity by dissecting texts on ecosystem personhood, neoliberal economic, social and cultural systems and design activism. Looking at the potentials of The Commons as a form of critique of the neoliberal capitalist status quo, the thesis culminates in a proposal for an ecologically engaged digital commons.

Brí is a concept for a digital commons platform with an ethos of ecological solidarity. It is a space for designers to occupy and explore counter-narrative projects to that of neoliberal design culture. The project was developed in a participatory manner, collaboratively exploring its potential with design practitioners.

I aspire to be a designer who is as common as muck.

Aisling McCallion www.aislingmccallion.com mccallionash@gmail.com