NEXT DESIGN DEBATE 27 March:
Design Debates #5: Power to / from the people
Can designers shape the energy transition or will the energy transition shape design?
27TH MARCH, 15.00 - 16.30 @ DESIGNHUIS, EINDHOVEN
THIS DEBATE IS ORGANIZED IN COLLABORATION WITH DAE’S SOURCE PROGRAMME. The publication Source 07 is MADE POSSIBLE BY E.ON Benelux.
Creating a sustainable energy future is a major issue on the global agenda – balancing huge economic and political interests, environmental concerns and an increasing consumer commitment to become an active part of the solution. Both on a small scale (single user) and on a much larger scale of energy production and distribution, alternative scenarios are being developed. The urgency of change is unquestioned, but simultaneously fossil fuels remain to be the major provider of energy for a society and economy addicted to ‘power’.
Questions about direction and scale of the energy transition towards sustainable models also relate to the role of design: can designers develop strategies in which the actual users become a driving force? Can ‘consumers’ become tomorrow’s main suppliers of energy? Are designers equipped to tackle the complexity around a sustainable energy future?
The debate was triggered in 2012 when energy company E.ON approached the master department of the Design Academy Eindhoven with a proposal for a joint project on the future of generation and consumption of energy. For several months, the master students worked in groups on different scenarios in dialogue with E.ON. The outcome of this project will be presented after the debate in the publication Source #07: ‘What if we were all producers?’
THE DEBATE FEATURES:
Sytse Jelles has been employed at E.ON since 2008. In his current position, he is responsible for strategy and corporate development in the Benelux countries. Jelles received a PhD degree at Delft University for his research of catalysts for cleaning diesel exhaust gas. Since then he has held several positions in the energy sector with development as dominant factor: process, business, strategy and stakeholder alliances.
Mike Thompson is a designer who explores old and new technologies to generate fresh relationships between function and behaviour, questioning common codes of conduct. He aims to create a body of work which blends his research-based design approach with an interest in current issues and technology to reflect and comment upon the present and future society.
Peter Mensinga is a multi-disciplinary designer/engineer with particular interest for the interface between building engineering, architecture and master planning. He focuses on energy and sustainability: since 2003 specifically on climate design, building physics and sustainability related to architecture and urban design. He currently works as Senior Designer/engineer at Arup London.
The debate is moderated by Gert Staal, theoretician and head of SOURCE, theory programme Master department Design Academy Eindhoven.