Networks of Design

Hackney, Fiona, Glynne, J. and Minton, V. (2009) Networks of Design. Brown Walker Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA, p. 573. ISBN 9781599429069

Abstract / Summary

Networks of Design (NoD) presents a new design studies methodology where responses to actor network theory inform interdisciplinary inquiry and practice. Through over ninety essays the book investigates design theory and applications in writing by authors researching the social sciences, technology, material culture, design history, cultural geography, information technology and systems design. NoD features an important new essay by Professor Bruno Latour, a pioneer of actor network theory and one of the most influential figures in the philosophy and sociology of science and technology, and an essay by Professor Jeremy Myerson, Royal College of Art. The book was jointly edited and introduced by Fiona Hackney, Jonathan Glynne and Viv Monton., NoD was developed from the Design History Society annual conference 2008, which, with 300 delegates and 150 speakers, was the largest international conference held at Falmouth University. Dr Hackney was lead convenor and Caroline Pullee (FU) Co-Convened. Working with colleagues and students at FU, Dr. Hackney curated a major exhibition, ‘Re-Imagining Cornwall’ (Polytechnic Falmouth) exploring past and present design networks in Cornwall to accompany the exhibition. Participating FU staff: Kate Southworth, Dr. Katie Bunnell, Dr. Justin Marshall, Jason Cleverly and Dr. Deborah Sugg-Ryan. External funding: DHS (£1,500) for Latour, Myerson and designer Jan Konings, Oxford University Press (£500), Higher Education Academy (£3,000), FU: (£10,000). Dr. Kjetil Fallan cited the conference in his important book Design History: Understanding Theory and Method (Berg, 2010). Details of speakers, abstracts, selected images, and podcasts of keynotes and other speakers’ talks are available from the conference website.

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