How would you create a design if your client was a native wetland plant species? What are its wants, needs and desires, and how does it connect to the humans which utilize its services?

This Ecosystem Service Design workshop will be given by Zack Denfeld from CoClimate (coclimate.com/). Participants will be introduced to the concept of ecosystem services, and will identify a particular animal, plant or biospheric flow as a client that they believe is undervalued. We will then use service design strategies to imagine and prototype new connections between humans, technology and the natural environment, culminating in a series of insights and patterns that will be collated, synthesized and disseminated following the workshop. Participants will leave with a set of tools for thinking creatively about specific environmental opportunities and challenges, and a set of metaphors for conducting design research with non-human clients.

Afterwards, Nowcasting artists James Bridle and Rachel Jacobs will be joined by Dr Candice Howarth – Senior Research Fellow Climate Action & Cultural Systems at Anglia Ruskin University – and Professor Mike Wilson – Loughborough University, The School of the Arts, English and Drama – to discuss their approaches to working with data to develop new narratives and experiences.

The workshop is aimed at researchers and practitioners within the fields of art, design, engineering and environmental sciences. It will be taking place in the LU Arts Project Space in the Edward Barnsley Building on Wednesday 15th October from 1pm – 4.30pm, with the discussion afterwards commencing at 5pm (ending at 7pm). As space for both sessions is limited, prior booking is necessary, which you can do via these links:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ecosystem-service-design-workshop-tickets-13284744027

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nowcasting-talks-tickets-13285091065