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Can Blockchain Lead us to Forest Sovereignty? A future imagining of more-than-human relations.
Get PDFThis work endeavoured on a preliminary futuristic imagining of what it would take for Forest to practice its sovereignty in our current system. The concept of Forest Sovereignty is employed to mitigate against the challenges identified in this work within the forest governance space in Canada. As an attempt to make this imagining real, the practice of governance is leveraged to anchor the concept of Forest Sovereignty. Because there are signals in the Web 3.0 space that are exploring ways in which natural resources, particularly Forest, may be governed differently, blockchain technology is explored as a tool to do this. While it is determined that blockchain technology is not sufficient, it is revealed that this research question is essentially an exploration into two significant matters: 1) understanding that this question is essentially exploring the relationship between a natural entity (forest) and a piece of technology (blockchain), and 2) ways in which we, humans, may be able to engage more-than-human beings in meaningful ways as an attempt to shift away from human-centric systems. This shift is considered vital as human beings continue to demonstrate a lack of regard towards Earth.
Keywords: Forest Governance, Blockchain, Non-Human Relations, Web 3.0, Natural and Tech System Merger
Drawing Down Toronto: Examining the Potentiality and Systemic Interactions of 90 Measures to Achieve Municipal Sustainability
Get PDFThis research project examines the potential for Project Drawdown's climate solutions framework to inform and expand the City of Toronto's strategies for achieving its ambitious goal of net zero emissions by 2040. Through a systematic analysis of over 90 Drawdown solutions, this case study research identifies high-impact measures not currently addressed in Toronto's TransformTO climate action plan. The study collects data on each solution's scientific basis, implementation status locally, and feasibility within Toronto's geographic, economic, and political context during 2021-2022. Solutions are evaluated and prioritized based on their capacity to significantly reduce Toronto's emissions by 2040, considering costs, benefits, and barriers. The literature review synthesizes current academic research on sustainability, innovation, and systemic transformation. These concepts inform strategies for holistic and participatory climate action that go beyond technological solutions. Proposals are developed for social, systemic, and regenerative innovations that can accelerate Toronto's transition. The research finds that solutions including high-speed rail, methane management, offshore wind, plant-based diets, and alternative refrigerants are overlooked opportunities for Toronto to fulfil its climate commitments. A multi-pronged approach addressing these gaps through technical and social innovations, public engagement, policy reform and systems thinking is recommended. The study aims to derive tailored, evidence-based strategies to expand Toronto's climate action plan, incorporating Drawdown solutions for a comprehensive roadmap to equitable net zero emissions. This case study provides a model for contextualizing global climate solutions to local sustainability goals
Co-Generative: A Generative Design Paradigm for Fostering Regenerative Communities
Get PDFHolistic sustainability literature argues that many of the most serious problems we face today are a result of innovation that is disconnected from its local ecological context. One of the innovations being explored to address the challenges of designing complex built environments is generative design; a collaborative design process that augments human design capabilities with computational power to explore a multitude of design alternatives. Regenerative design is a holistic design approach that builds on understanding ecosystem patterns that regenerate a system’s health and vitality.
In this Major Research Project, I explore the bridge between generative design and regenerative design to propose a computationally-augmented design approach that contributes to fostering the health of the system as a whole. Using a strategic foresight framework, I deconstruct the current computational generative design paradigm and construct a new one based on a metaphor of perpetuity and a worldview that values collective flourishing, abundance, and appropriate participation. Building on this new paradigm, I propose a revised generative design workflow that emphasizes collaboration, connectedness with the land, participatory foresight, and emergence. I conclude that a regenerative generative design approach is community, context, and complexity-sensitive
Refuge in Audacity: Let the Memes Fall as They May
Get PDFThrough the presentation of memes created during the pandemic, the graduate exhibition Refuge in Audacity: Let the Memes Fall as They May explores manifestations of absurdism and dark humour as a means of catharsis and healing in order to befit the individual’s desire to seek meaning in an otherwise meaningless existence. The rampant transmission of memes during the COVID-19 Pandemic revealed an outpouring of absurdism in the aftermath of this global crisis. A response that is similar to the Spanish Flu and World War I where, steeped in collective grief and trauma, the global population sought refuge in humour, the surreal, and the nonsensical. Contemporary visual creators also employ humour in their response to the existential crisis brought by the pandemic. The memes in this exhibition are all taken from the period starting with the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic in March 2020 till the present—since the pandemic is still ongoing—and are printed and displayed in the gallery space. Refuge in Audacity showcases the usage of memes as an absurd expression of experience during the pandemic years and reflects on their identity as the storytellers of the period
Learning boundaries: An Exploration of using an Immersive Virtual Environment with a Conversational training tool to help Individuals Learn about Verbal Consent
Get PDFConsent is crucial in establishing boundaries and respect for personal autonomy. It is an essential concept in legal and social contexts, becoming increasingly relevant in recent years. It is commonly understood as an agreement between two or more people for something to occur. Depending on the context, it may be necessary for activities, interactions, and medical procedures. This research explores using an immersive virtual environment as a tool for experiential learning approaches to help users learn and train themselves in verbal consent scenarios. The study examines and explores related concepts using research through design methodology and looks at the effectiveness of using Virtual Reality (VR) as a technology for the user to learn about verbal consent via scenarios in an immersive environment. VR can facilitate the sense of embodiment for the user. This research allows users to interact with a non-playable character to practice and learn about consent, without judgment.
The effectiveness of using VR as a learning tool for consent was evaluated through research through design methodology and user testing, utilizing a quantitative data analysis approach. Pre- and post-experiment surveys were administered to assess the experiment's effectiveness, and the collected data was synthesized and analyzed to comprehend the research outcome.
Keywords: Immersive virtual environments, consent, conversational agent, experiential learning, embodiment, interactions, non-player characte
UNPREDICTABLE MEMES: Speculative Futures of meme creators' ownership through the Lens of Disruptive Technologies
Get PDFUnpredictable Memes explores the impact of technological change on the creation and propagation of memes in contemporary digital culture and envisions a possible future for the meme creator’s ownership. In this thesis, I begin with a historical and economic review to delve into technological movements and trends on social media in the attention economy, highlighting how Artificial Intelligence(AI) algorithms and Blockchain technologies disrupt the monetization of memes in ways that affect the ownership. Considering the legal and ethical segments of the potential future of meme monetization, the review of copyright and ownership of human and AI-created memes. I employ Economic Constructivism and Participatory Speculation as methodologies to collaboratively imagine both optimistic and dark future scenarios with experts from different fields related to memes, to create an interactive documentary that depicts the evolution of meme creators and the proposed vision of their future. Through this study, I speculate that in the future, AI algorithms will present new opportunities to catalyze human creativity for meme creators and to think of what creators should do to avoid homogenization of creativity, while Blockchain technologies will open up possibilities for emerging communities where meme creators can reshape ownership and scarcity in valuing creativity
NEMA - Preserving cultural heritage through cross-dialogue between traditional and digital ways of making.
Get PDF‘NEMA’ explores how various digital techniques and ways of thinking can intersect with traditional methods of making culturally inspired art and design. In this study, the traditional methods being focused on are the use of clay and paint on surfaces to create cultural designs that hold the significance of traditional heritage, beliefs, power, and ancestral knowledge within them. The digital techniques and methods being researched and studied are the use of digitally fabricated approaches like 3D modeling, scanning, and digital printing. “The goal of this research-creation work is to combine both digital and traditional methods to create an immersive experience that Africans in the diaspora can identify with, while also encouraging a wider audience to engage with African cultural heritage.”
This research seeks to find ways to effectively preserve cultural and traditional practices through ways of thinking through making. As Dr. John Henry Clark says, “Take the best of what you are good at and use it to help your people.'' Through this work, I use my art to address certain negative notions about my Nigerian culture, opening discourse to bring about enlightening people and showcasing the richness of my cultural heritage, while also preserving it by creating an archival set of culturally inspired works through these methods
Not a failed version of normal.
Get PDFThe scene is set through building a reflexive, design-centred collaboration space. Within this space, we co-designers follow a systems and foresight methodology to explore questions of equity in medical device development. The researcher’s extensive experience in medical device development is leveraged, and the collaboration space is arranged to mimic the power dynamic between expert and users, so central to the task of fitting a medical device to the market. Collaboratively, we explore origins of system behaviours and dynamics, by tracing real-life tragedies, and opportunities for equity imagined through outlier success stories. This paper examines the changes and challenges in outcome that are brought about when “designing the designing” is prioritized as well as critically examining how these findings might apply to the system of medical device development as a whole.
A collaboration-building branch of this project provides a case study in which co-design theory is moved into practice. A branch dedicated to systemic exploration of medical device development reflects critically and creatively on the researcher’s practice, with specific interest in the Flourishing Business Model Canvas as well as risk/benefit analyses essential to achieving safety and effectiveness. Findings from each branch are proposed as the nexus of departure from which an individual may press for increased awareness of systemic inequity in environments into which products will be launched.
This research makes the case that the choice to prioritize “designing the designing” is necessary but not sufficient. Without a wholesale change of values in these ecosystems, this may be a small step toward increasing awareness. Values must undergo transformation at the business strategy level or above, for equity practices to become embedded in the system.
Keywords: power, reflexivity, intersectionality, social determinants of health, equity, futures, participatory foresight, co-design, systems thinking, design thinking, values, medical device development, flourishing business model canvas, ecosystems
Exploring interactive interfaces under sound and visual content
Get PDFThis paper researches the possibilities of using interactive interfaces to enhance audience participation in audio-visualization artwork. The research will be conducted with three interfaces: Arduino knob sensors, a web camera, and a leap motion. Each input will trigger different visual parameters, giving the audience dynamic exploration through projects.
This work is inspired by a performance area called VJ'ing, in which live visuals and music are shared with audiences. I noticed most video jockeys (VJs) use MIDI Controllers and knobs to build visual content which can match the DJ set. This inspired my interest in exploring other interactive interfaces to manipulate visuals in new ways. I use Research-Creation, a methodology through making combined with my previous knowledge and practices, to build new approaches to sound visualization.
This work will be set up in an empty space; three different inputs will generate different visual effects based on a similar visual style. The audience participating in the interactive experience will see how different interfaces can create possibilities and inspire potential users. These explorations' possibilities can apply to various areas, such as live performances and digital art creations