![Attending [to] Futures Conference](https://res.cloudinary.com/ds75v9cco/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/Attendingtofuture-57_ey3ruu)
15
Attending
[to] Futures
Design Conference & Workshop
Year
2021
Location
Cologne, Germany
Type
Academic — Conference
Status
Three Day Conference
Institution
TH Köln — KISD
Website
The Attending to Futures conference invites critical perspectives that examine different norms in the design discipline — dominant ways of knowing, being, doing and imagining in design education, research and practice. Held at Köln International School of Design of TH Köln on 18–20 November 2021, and simultaneously streamed online, the conference brought together designers, activists, researchers, and educators from design, art, architecture, cultural studies, and anthropology.
Lectures, workshops, urban walks, live performances, film screenings, and open discussions invited interdisciplinary exchange across three intensive days. The programme examined existing design norms and opened up space for alternative and critical futures in design practice and education.
The event was structured to allow for multiple modes of participation — from formal keynote presentations to informal discussion groups and live performances — creating a genuinely pluralistic space for debate and reflection.
As part of the organisation team, the focus was on content curation and on-site coordination of the full three-day event. This involved programming the schedule, managing speaker logistics, and ensuring the hybrid format worked seamlessly across both in-person and online audiences.
On the second day of the conference, the role shifted to moderator — presenting keynote speakers and steering the discussions during talks and lectures, keeping the dialogue rigorous, inclusive, and on track.
Following the conference, a publication was produced collecting writing from participants and contributors. Sally's article, "I Disagree With You Super Politely", was included in the conference publication — a piece engaging with the politics of disagreement and politeness in design discourse.