Arturo Escobar on Regenerative Design | Solvable New Works w/ The RSA

On February 3rd, Arturo Escobar and Michal Osterweil joined us to discuss Regenerative Design. Together with The RSA, we explored the ontological perspective on regeneration and design where many worlds fit.

REGENERATION NEW WORKS SERIES
We’re in a transitionary socio-cultural moment between systems with a growing recognition of the imperative to change the direction of social and planetary travel. New Works Regeneration is a knowledge commons where conversations are a space for emerging the myriad dimensions of radical improvement. The conversations are free and open to all with the intentions of strengthening connections, expanding perspectives, and championing important contributions.

0:00 Adam Lerner introduces the series and the topic
4:20 Josie Warden introduces The RSA
6:23 May Bartlett offers a centring exercise
10:36 Josie Warden introduces Arturo Escobar
11:36 What role has design played in shaping our world today?
18:35 What is the pluriverse?
22:11 What is autonomous design?
26:05 Intro to breakouts: How is design shaping your daily thinking?
27:02 End of breakouts
27:40 Adam Lerner introduces Michal Osterweil
29:05 Michal Osterweil on the six axes of transition
48:09 Intro to breakouts: How can you start implementing one or multiple of these axes in your life and work?
49:05 Returning from breakouts
49:53 Q&A with Arturo and Michal
54:20 Michal reads section from her and Arturo's book in progress
56:16 May Bartlett offers integration exercise and close

ARTURO ESCOBAR
Arturo Escobar is an activist-researcher from Cali, Colombia, working on territorial struggles against extractivism, postdevelopmentalist and post-capitalist transitions, and ontological design. He was professor of anthropology and political ecology at UNC, Chapel Hill, until 2018, and is currently affiliated with PhD Programs in Design and Creation (Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia) and in Environmental Sciences (Universidad del Valle, Cali). Over the past thirty years, he has worked closely with Afro-descendant, environmental and feminist organizations in Colombia. His most well-known book is Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World (1995, 2nd Ed. 2011). His most recent books are: Designs for the Pluriverse: Radical Interdependence, Autonomy, and the Making of Worlds (2018); Pluriversal Politics: The Real and the Possible (2020); and Designing Relationally: Making and Restor(y)ing Life, with Michal Osterweil and Kriti Sharma (forthcoming).