To get there: designing together

Abstract

The main focus for the Cumulus Conference was on Border Crossings: Pilgrimage to Paris, 2018. In response to this, Cumulus Contemporary Art working group called for papers that responded to this main conference theme by considering how contemporary artists and designers cross borders in order to collaborate and innovate. Dr Rhiannon Jones was invited to speak about her research and artistic collaboration Kelly + Jones. The paper considered how artists both ask and challenge questions about how artists and designers challenge the integrity of boundaries. Dr Rhiannon Jones presented a paper split into two parts, the first was a pre-recorded digital paper as an act of considered ideas of invisible boundaries between on and off line, of absence and presence and re-doing and re-making. It discusses how research activities can challenge hierarchical systems that create boarder lines within H.E and Industry through reflecting on the practice of Kelly + Jones. The verbal paper then continued to address these ideas and addressed the topics of identity, appropriation, collaboration, and hybridity as they pertain to relevant issues in contemporary art and design. The second part of the paper was entitled Design without walls: reflections on the collaborative and international practice between Kelly + Jones. The central research question raised was how can art and design theory and practice work across borders. The paper provided examples of how the artistic research and art and design teaching of Kelly + Jones provide examples of how they have achieved this and challenge it within an international context. The subsequent conversation that took place post presentation within the contemporary art working group were focused on the belief that the various approaches to design research should follow a common path, that aim to stimulate collaborative practice and let innovation and unpredictability break free. Cumulus is the only global association to serve education and research in its disciplines. It is a forum for partnership, friendship and transfer of knowledge and best practices. Cumulus provides its members and partners a wide, flexible, dynamic and diversified friendly forum of exchange, cooperation and innovation. Cumulus promotes and empowers the talent of the next generation of creative and responsible people. Cumulus builds and maintains a dynamic forum bringing together top-level educational institutions from all parts of the world. The cultural diversity of a variety of nations is a source for synergy and excellence. Cumulus was founded in 1990 consisting currently of 257 members from 55 countries and being able to reach a minimum of 755.000 students and thousands of academics, staff and other audience. Cumulus is endorsed by UNESCO.