No.15 DESIGNING CRITICAL DESIGN

Arts centre Z33 focuses on contemporary art and design through integrated multidisciplinary projects. Its name, introduced in 2002, refers to the address: Zuivelmarkt 33 in Hasselt, Belgium. The centre is situated in the former beguinage of Hasselt. Its exhibition space consists of the 18th century beguinage infrastucture (houses and garden) and a larger exhibition wing built in 1958.

For the exhibition Designing Critical Design, Z33 invited Jurgen Bey (NL), Anthony Dunne & Fiona Raby (UK) en Martí Guixé (E), four designers who are all known for their critical attitude towards mainstream product design.

They have distanced themselves from the modern commercial design world, but nevertheless use the mechanisms of that world to ask questions about their own discipline and about technology, social and ethical questions. Their ambivalent, critical position in respect of product design and the humorous language of forms that they use are the common threads running through this exhibition.

The exhibition is seen as a composition of three ‘solo presentations’ with the four designers presenting an overview of their key works. In addition, Z33 gave the participating designers the assignment to create a new work.

Jurgen Bey has, with crates as the basic material, created a new exhibition landscape with working area.

Dunne & Raby's Robot is the first creation within the Technological Dreams Series: several robot models with unique psychological and social functions.

Martí Guixé has placed 4 Car Mirrors in the city of Hasselt. The underlying principle of this work, a mirror the size of a big car, is that the car is no longer simply a means of transport, but rather part of your image and personality.

An interview and a special issue of design, art and architecture magazine DAMn° gives more information on the designers. Jurgen Bey, Anthony Dunne & Fiona Raby and Martí Guixé talk about what critical design is to them and about the way they practice it.

On May 7th at 7 pm, Jurgen Bey, Anthony Dunne & Fiona Raby and Martí Guixé will give lectures (in English) about their own practices and discuss the production assignments specifically.

A panel discussion with Hilde Bouchez as moderator will follow the presentations.

No. 15 DESIGNING CRITICAL DESIGN
experimental objects and hypothetic projects for a consumer society

mit Jürgen Bey, Anthony Dunne & Fiona Raby, Marti Guixe