The Interdisciplinary Art and Design Practices Seminar investigates art and design work in the interdisciplinary modalities of contemporary culture, the city, and the planet. As artists and designers respond to challenges of global magnitude and their local impacts, engage with cross-cultural and often conflicting conditions, and operate in disparate economic and societal realms, the need for increased engagement and collaboration is paramount. The complexity present in the context of action–economic, social, political, cultural, and ecological–frequently requires interdisciplinary approaches accompanied by cross-pollinating knowledge and skill sets.

Stemming from socially engaged art and design practices, this seminar aims to develop artistic tools and approaches that expand disciplinary boundaries, crossover and interact with communities, policymakers, institutions, and various experts, and help foster new forms of interdisciplinary knowledge.

Amid the climate emergency, escalating militarized conflicts, peak armament, and rapid technological advancements, we must reimagine visions, strategies, and pragmatic processes to foster new forms of collaboration that prioritize care for both others and the planet.

This semester, in dialogue with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the Vienna Art Academy PhD group led by Prof. Elke Krasny, the seminar will explore the themes of “Dark Matter” and “Design with Care“–both in theory and practice–by examining the diverse impacts and residues of atomic, nuclear, and quantum physics, ranging from bombs to AI, and considering their related material infrastructures, including mines, power plants, and waste facilities.

This project-based seminar adopts an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the complex interplay between scientific advancements, technological infrastructure, and responsible design. Through critical and creative engagement, we will explore how artistic practices can shape narratives and cultivate visions of care across multiple scales–from individual to collective bodies and from domestic to ecological spaces–while fostering a sense of shared experience and responsibility.

The course includes lectures, conversations with experts, and workshops. Throughout the semester, students will develop projects using diverse media, such as visual documentation, spatial design at various scales, policy recommendations, and interventions in both physical and virtual public spaces.

The semester will culminate and conclude with a collective exhibition to showcase the students’ work.