Lisa Mandemaker

Lisa Mandemaker is a social designer specializing in speculative design and design for debate. Lisa Mandemaker is a social designer specializing in speculative design and design for debate. By crafting (future) narratives through designed artifacts she uses design as a form of storytelling to challenge assumptions, question or excite. Her latest designs focus on interventions and conversation starters about emerging reproductive technologies, such as artificial wombs. This year she is working with Garage2020 on an artistic research project about the common sense as a new narrative for the future of health.

Talk: The Common Sense

In our Western world, we are used to celebrating being independent and autonomous individuals. This affects how we interact with and care for each other. As a result of COVID19, this belief in self-sufficiency has shifted. Nowadays frequently used slogans are: ‘we are in this together’ or ‘we will fight this pandemic together’. But what is the meaning of “together” in this case? And does “together” include every individual? On the one hand our lockdown lives have become smaller and more intimate, while on the other hand our need for mutual connection is greater than ever before. In her talk, Lisa Mandemaker guides you through her research and experiments to make sense of a future ‘common sense’. What does it mean to have common sense? What does it look like? Can you measure or amplify common sense?

Photo: Milan Amzic