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Jan 17, 2025 16 min

Defuturing: a new design philosophy

from Synthetica: Synthesis on Design Hosted by Synthetic Synthesis

Tony Fry's Defuturing: A New Design Philosophy introduces a critical examination of design's role in creating unsustainability. The text argues that design history reveals a pattern of neglecting long-term consequences, leading to a "defutured" world. Fry proposes "defuturing" as a method to analyze and expose this pattern, advocating for a new design philosophy focused on sustainability. This involves rethinking design's relationship to time, power, and relationality, moving beyond linear thinking to embrace complexity and ethical responsibility. The work ultimately aims to transform design practice by fostering a deeper understanding of its impact and promoting sustainable alternatives. Please note that the podcast covers key points from the source with synthetic voices, which may have glitches. It’s a reflective, not comprehensive, interpretation. Fry, T. (2020). Defuturing: a new design philosophy. Bloomsbury Visual Arts. (pp.1-15) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit syntheticsynthesis.substack.com

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