HUMAN OBJECT – A DISOBEDIENT PATHWAY TOWARDS A MORE RESONANT DESIGN PRACTICE
Siv Lier
Department of Design,
Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design,
University of Bergen
> PROCESS
ABSTRACT:
Human Object – a disobedient pathway towards a more resonant design practice is an artistic research project exploring the entanglements between design and nature, and between humans and designed objects. The project grew from my experiences as a furniture designer in the international design industry, where I recognised that I was more interested in the human-object ‘intra-actions’ (Barad 2007) than in creating profitable products for mass production. This, together with my concern for the state of the Earth, created a dissonance and a desire to find ways for my design practice to align with my values.
I revisit my past design practice to identify valued aspects and sources of friction. I articulate these as conditions to expand, reorient, or break with to become a resonant designer. This marks the start of the practice experiments in the PhD.
‘Disobedience’ (breaking with) and ‘entanglement’ (immersion in) guide the process, focusing on two topics:
1. Design’s relationship to waste and (over)consumption
2. Design used as a tool to tame nature and humans.
These topics interweave throughout the practice, as do 'disobedience' and 'entanglement'. However, the emphasis on the unwanted elements that refuse to be categorised permeates the entire research.
I invite the hammer into the process, both as a cultural prop I reflect on, and as a companion I reflect with. I also welcome people to engage with my research through exhibitions, workshops, and other events. Reflections occur both during practice and afterwards, as I contemplate my actions. I realise that a resonant designer attunes herself to the situation before acting and pays attention to the different voices and actants present.
The project belongs to the expanded design field, viewing design as a liberal art rather than a science (Buchanan 1992). It relates to discursive design (Tharp and Tharp 2018) by emphasising design as a tool for reflection and relationship-building rather than for utility. I am part of a community shifting from human-centred to more-than-human-centred design (Coulton and Lindley 2019).
The artistic outcome was presented in an exhibition at KMD (University of Bergen) in September 2025, featuring an installation and three publications: The Reflection, ‘The Hammer’ and ‘Na(cul)ture’.
Supervisors are Professor of Visual Communication Dóra Ísleifsdóttir and Professor of Practice in Contemporary Design, Julia Lohmann (Aalto University).
