About

Designed Ecology is a multidisciplinary design practice that seeks to explore what a posthumanist, polyspecies environment could look like, one which attempts to move away from a humanist hierarchy of species.

www.designed-ecology.com

@designed-ecology

Modular Habitats at ‘Sadness is a No GO’zone’
Copeland Gallery, London 2019

         Disused vertical space, such as building facades, within our cities and domestic spaces are a missed opportunity to promote ecological and biological diversity. In response, DE is continually ideating concepts for new additions to our city scape that promote cohabitation with local wildlife. Further to this, these objects seek to raise awareness and visibility for marginalised species by creating a visual experience that leaves the viewer wanting to know more.

Exhibited

‘ Sadness is a no gO’zone’
August 2nd, 2019, Copeland Gallery, Peckham, London. 

Adapt put on an environmental exhibition like no other! With ever-more pressing news about climate change hitting our headlines on a daily basis, and a surge of inspiring action taking the country by storm, Adapt invited people to learn about, and act on global warming through their huge specially designed space. 'Sadness is a no gO-zone' featured the work of Adapt and 50 specially selected artists, including Designed Ecology. Visitors came to the gallery to tackle the biggest issues facing the planet, from energy to travel to wilding through curated actions.

Collaborators

Adaptive Capacity
Adapt (@adapt___) is a climate club using art and design to combat climate change. 

Press;  ArtRabbit, Evening Standard

UK / 2019

Anti-Anti-Pigeon Spikes 
Second Floor Studios, South East London 2019

A short project outcome during a methods & processes module with the Goldsmiths Design Department - inspired by ‘Disobedient Objects’ exhibited at the V&A Museum.

’These spikes cut open modern Britain in a myriad of unflattering ways. They are not shocking or unusual, but utterly typical of a society that poisons the air we breathe, has extinguished the stars with artificial light, and builds parking lots on paradise every day of the week. They demonstrate how deaf we are to beauty: that we will sacrifice birdsong (proven to enhance our emotional wellbeing) rather than have to wipe down the Audi once a week. They reveal how intolerant we are of urban nature.’

Exhibited

SHAPES Lewisham 2019 
Anti-Anti Pigeon Spikes exhibited at Second Floor Studios, Deptford, South East London. Part of the SHAPESLewisham launch event supporting local creatives in New Cross & Deptford, 15th May, 2019.

UK / 2019

The Sparrow Cone is a speculative design piece in response to several biologists reports stating that anthropological noise pollution leaves sparrow chicks malnourished, as their parents cannot hear them begging for food. Further to this, the birds are also struggling to hear predatory alarm calls warning them of imminent danger, leading to higher deaths from predation.

The cone acts as an ‘amplification tool’, allowing the birds to have some agency and control over the volume of their calls. It’s suggested in the piece that over time the birds would learn to use the cones as an evolutionary tool, helping them to adapt to the unstoppable effects of urbanisation.

Exhibited

Sparrow Speculations exhibited at ‘HYPHEN’, for the Goldsmiths BA Design degree show. HYPHEN, The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Ln, Spitalfields, London E1 6QR. June 2017. 


Special thanks;
Lund University, Sweden
University of Shefflied, UK
Goldsmiths University of London 

UK / 2018

           Disused vertical space, such as building facades, within our cities and domestic spaces are a missed opportunity to promote ecological and biological diversity. In response, DE is continually ideating concepts for new additions to our city scape that promote cohabitation with local wildlife. Further to this, these objects seek to raise awareness and visibility for marginalised species by creating a visual experience that leaves the viewer wanting to know more.

Exhibited

Modular Habitat exhibited at ‘HYPHEN’, for the Goldsmiths BA Design degree show. HYPHEN, The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Ln, Spitalfields, London E1 6QR. June 2017.

The Blackbird

(Short Documentary)

             
              By looking at how rural human-animal relationships differ from that of inner city relationships, this piece of documentary style research seeks to aid in shifting the current perception of wild animals as ‘intruders’, to one that accepts a high level of local ecological inclusion. The films act as a tool in our process for curating empathy towards marginalised species.

With special thanks to; Gerald Blamey, Karl Davies

Exhibited;

Goldsmiths Festival of the Arts The Blackbird’ exhibited at Goldsmiths University of London, New Cross, South East London. Part of the Goldsmiths Festival of the Arts 2018 launch event, supporting the creative output of students across Goldsmiths University. 17th November 2018.

UK - Cornwall / 2018

Publications


Arrogant Urbanism: An Evolution of the Postmodern Animal, 2017
Undergraduate dissertation. Awarded 1st class mark. Goldsmiths, University of London, 2017.
Copies available on request.



Awards


Goldsmiths Innovation Awards, 2019
Shortlisted

Santander Univertities Prototyping Fund, 2019
Won

Tom Fund Grant, 2017
Won



Exhibitions


Sadness is a no gO-zone August 2019
Modular Habitats & Anti-Anti-Pigeon Spikes exhibits this summer, 2nd - 4th of August at Copeland Park. Part of ‘Sadness is a no gO-zone’, a climate art show, exhibiting art and design with a defiant and cheeky response to the climate crisis. Curated and produced by Adaptive Capacity.


SHAPESLewisham 2019
Anti-Anti Pigeon Spikes exhibited at Second Floor Studios, Deptford, South East London. Part of the SHAPESLewisham launch event supporting local creatives in New Cross & Deptford, 15th May, 2019.


HYPHEN 2017
Modular Habitats & Sparrow Speculations exhibited at The Old Truman Brewery, Shoreditch, London. Part of the Goldsmiths BA Design degree show, summer 2017.

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