Design shapes and changes the world we live in. At the same time, concepts about how this world should be understood are shared and disstributed by design. The fact that this happens on a very broad basis, seems not only due to global supply chains and data streams. Rather, design`s media-like character seems to closely tied to its claims for socio-economic impact on a grand scale – claims that have shaped the discipline to a great extent since industrialization.

Surprisingly, a mediality of design does not seem to be a particularly relevant topic in current design discourses. On the contrary: especially in recent contributions dedicated to ecological and social challenges, this has just been mentioned in a few side remarks at best.

My conference paper aims to explore design`s globalized mediality beyond individual design approaches, a specific material or form. By examining discursive traces and blind spots on the periphery of ontological design, design economics and design aesthetics, I would like to draft some starting points for a theory of design`s mediality.

Location: University of Fribourg/Switzerland, Campus Pérolles PER 21, Avenue des Perolles 90, Room D.130