DS Lecture Series: The Culture of Nature: Ecological Awareness as the Next Frontier of Sustainability

On November 24th, 2022, Prof. Dr. Francesca VALSECCHI, Associate Professor of College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University, was a guest speaker at the DS Lecture Series of SUSTech School of Design (hereinafter referred to as the School), sharing with students and faculty members of SUSTech her views on how to eliminate the distinction between culture and nature and support a new kind of concept of sustainable development. With the title of "The Culture of Nature: Econological Awareness as the Next Frontier of Sustainability", she shared with students and faculty of SUSTech her research on how to bridge the gap between culture and nature and support a new design practice. The lecture was moderated by Dr. Enza MIGLIORE, assistant professor in the School.

From the perspectives of the definition of design, the conflict between humans and nature, and the idea of culture and nature, VALSECCHI explained the basic concepts of design, how to look at the methodology of transhuman design, and how to create empathy for all forms of life through Transitional Design, as well as her concepts of how to bridge the gap between culture and nature and a new design practice born out of it. She also introduced her ideas on how to bridge the gap between culture and nature, and a new design philosophy and practice based on this. Focusing on the conflict between humans and nature, and the idea of culture and nature, she elaborated on how natural ecology, production and human beings can create a continuous interaction through the pyramid of fabrication in the context of contemporary society. She pointed out that in the contemporary context, its real purpose is not to solve or set up problems, but to rediscover ecological entanglements so as to realize that rational exploitation is one of the best conservation effects.

Finally, VALSECCHI further analyzed how to rediscover ecological entanglement and lead the modernization of harmonious coexistence between human and nature by taking the innovative designs and environmentally advanced designs created by students as examples respectively.

During the discussion session, VALSECCHI had a lively discussion with students and teachers on the degree of practice of his design concepts, whether the maturity of the designs is enough to be put into real social practice, and the details of the innovative designs.