We invite professionals, researchers and artists to submit proposals (details below) that discuss and explore exemplary and imaginative collaborations in relation to the theme of the conference, ‘Around the Campfire: Resilience and Intelligence’. We welcome contributions from academia and practitioners to join the conversation - around the campfire in Rovaniemi! We are particularly interested in proposals that develop, explore, investigate, and generate new knowledge in design, art or media, with the following themes in mind:
1. Resilience and Intelligence in Design, Art and Media
The theme of resilience and intelligence are especially emphasized in Cumulus Rovaniemi. What are the means, tool and methods in design that can assist processes of growth and advancement in geographical or societal margins? How can design support and facilitate resilience? What forms do resilience and intelligence take on in design, art and media? How have resilience and intelligence been present in the various contexts of art, design and media practice? What difference does the advancing intelligent technology make and how does it contribute to resilience?
2. Arctic and Sustainable Art and Design
Environmental values are in the core of designing sustainable futures. What are the networks and contents discussed above the Arctic Circle? How is design connected with geographies and politics in the North? What new approaches and case studies are taking place in sustainable design? What are the lessons learnt for academics and practitioners in sustainable art and design? Situated at the Arctic Circle, Cumulus Rovaniemi will take a special interest in topics that relate to sustainability and Arctic Art and Design.
3. Cross-disciplinary Paths for Art, Design and Media
Cross-disciplinary collaborations between different fields are growing and becoming increasingly important. What kind of cross-disciplinary practice, research and other collaborations are taking place in art, design and media? How can cross-disciplinary collaborations in art, design and media build resilience? This track invites presentations and discussions on cross-disciplinary projects and collaborations that will come about around the campfire at Cumulus Rovaniemi.
4. The Future of Design Teaching
This theme addresses the future of design teaching by considering how educators can keep up with the challenges posed by present day societies, business and global issues. The objects of design are complex, transient and multidimensional, and thus the design competence taught in higher education is holistic and cross-discipline even more than before. The value of learning through making and the creative relationships between design, art, media and research will be explored with a cross-disciplinary focus on change. Questions related to how design education facilitate these learning processes will be addressed in this theme.
5. Creative Industries and Entrepreneurship
The challenges of sustainable entrepreneurship are manifold, especially for the commercialisation of good product and service ideas. How can creative production offer livelihoods in the times of AI and novel technologies? What are the lessons learnt in bridging product-service design and commercialisation journeys? Practitioners and researchers are invited to submit presentations and papers that investigate the challenges of sustainable entrepreneurship in creative industries.
6. Cultural and Participatory Perspectives
Cultural and participatory perspectives have permeated the areas of practice and research in art, design and media fields. This conference seeks to bring together discussions and presentations from practitioners and researchers on how resilience and intelligence sustain, or are sustained by, cultural and participatory perspectives in art, design and media. How do environments, and specifically the Arctic environment, impact on resilient and intelligent cultural and participatory perspectives in art, design and media?
7. Innovative Techniques, Methods and Theory
Practitioners and researchers are invited to share and present new and innovative art, design and media techniques, methods and theory that have been developed. How is the materiality explored and expressed? This conference is interested in collating and discussing new and innovative methods and theory in both practice and research that draw on intelligence to contribute to resilience and sustainable futures for creative industries.