In this context, the role of design takes on a new meaning, torn between its role as the "credibility" of a liberal society which will need it to revive carefree and harmful consumption, and the societal role it can play as the driving force behind a fundamental transformation.
In order to reflect collectively on these questions, I have begun to carry out a series of interviews with creators and design theorists who have in the past shown their ability to develop critical thinking in relation to their activity. You will see the result below.
The dialogues all start from the personal experience of the interviewee, to expand on the more general analysis of behaviour and finally the prospects for transformation, both societal and creative, enabling us to act in this context of change. The interviewees are in totally different cultural, linguistic, political and social contexts. Because even if the confinement immobilised billions of citizens of the Earth, the way this time was dramatised, the way the citizen was respected and considered as dignified and responsible differed greatly from one country to another. The interviews reveal these differences.
Ruedi Baur, May 2020
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — introduction by Ruedi Baur
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Lars Müller
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Uta Brandes
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Michael Erlhoff
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Giulio Vinaccia
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Philippe Casens
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Ewa Satalecka
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Franck Houndégla
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Jan Piechota
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Vera Baur
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Roger Paez i Blanch
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Kiko Farkas
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Rico Lins
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Jean-Louis Frechin
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Giovanna Massoni
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Pablo Georgieff
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Hubert Klumpner
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Samuel Aden
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Danielle Rosales et Robin Coenen
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Isabel Naegele
"Suddenly, the world was immobilized" — Ruedi Baur in dialog with Ramy Fischler
"And suddenly, the world was immobilized".
A series of dialogs led by Ruedi Baur about design during and after the coronavirus health crisis in 2020.
A project initiated by Ruedi and Vera Baur, with dix—milliards—humains and Civic City.
Translations, editing and design : Io Baur, Ruedi Baur, Odyssée Khorsandian.
A project supported and financed by Lille Métropole 2020 World Design Capital.
To go further :
http://civic-city.org
http://www.ruedi-baur.eu
https://www.designiscapital.com