BEING

Design shapes how we see, feel, and understand the world. It informs identities, influences behaviours, and constructs realities. But what does it mean to design for being—to communicate the complexities of identity, society, and the non-human world in a way that is ethical, inclusive, and meaningful?BOUNCE 2025-6 invites speakers to explore BEING—not as a fixed concept, but as a process of interaction, adaptation, and expression. What are we designing? Who are we designing for? And how do we challenge the ways design is shaping our collective experience?

Being Human: Identity, Inclusion & Care

What happens when design defines who belongs?

Design is a powerful tool in shaping identity—both personal and collective. But are we creating truly inclusive visual languages, or reinforcing outdated systems of representation? How do we design for diverse experiences, mixed abilities, and evolving identities without flattening them into trends or tokenism?

Potential themes that could be explored:

• Visual storytelling for underrepresented voices

• Care-centred design for aging populations

• The role of design in shaping personal and collective identity

Being in Place: Communication, Community & Visibility

Whose voices are seen, and whose are silenced?

From street posters to digital platforms, design decides what gets attention. How can designers co-create instead of just communicate, designing for vibrant, inclusive communities?

Potential themes that could be explored:

• Community-led and participatory design approaches

• Sustainable and regenerative design for shared spaces

• Ethics of AI and human interaction

Beyond Being: Non-Human Perspectives & Ecological Futures

What if we designed as if humans weren’t at the centre?

Nature doesn’t need us—but we desperately need it. What if we designed with nature instead of against it? From AI-generated creativity to designing for the more-than-human world, how do we shift design thinking beyond human needs and into ecological, ethical, and speculative futures?

• Designing for and with non-human entities (insects, animals, ecosystems)

• Rethinking consumption and materiality in design

• Bio-inspired and regenerative design practices

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