Posthuman factors
Encyclopedia
Posthuman Factors is a strategically pragmatic approach to design, operating as an intuitive extension of posthuman theory in action. First articulated by Haakon Faste
in his doctoral dissertation and subsequent writings on perceptual robotics
and art
, posthuman factors uses human-centered design as the basis for exploring speculative futures in which the humans in question are no longer human.
In general, posthuman factors addresses the intersection of design practices that includes (1) the design of posthumans, (2) designing for such posthumans, especially in safe and sustainable ways, and (3) designing the design methodologies that will supersede human-centered design (i.e., "posthuman-centered design", or the processes of design that posthumans employ). The field uses speculative approaches of design and design strategy, and is especially skeptical of "humanist" values, mores, and practices in design. In this regard it can be considered an offshoot of critical design
, which "will often challenge its audience's preconceptions and expectations thereby provoking new ways of thinking about the object, its use, and the surrounding environment."
Just as the field of human factors
grew out of engineering in reaction to the proliferation of mechanical systems that are dangerous or difficult for humans to use, posthuman factors considers the dangers of not adequately considering the potentially dangerous uses of posthuman systems. It both builds on and opposes the principles of human-centered design, rejecting the humanist values on which much contemporary design practice is based while extending some of the values and ideals it espouses (such as compassion and altruism) to posthuman beings. Like critical design
it is "more of an attitude than style or movement; a position rather than a method", but it is ultimately antithetical to "critical" approaches, building instead on design thinking
practices rooted in personal intuition and self-realization.
Haakon Faste
Haakon Faste, Ph.D, is an American designer and artist, best known for his work in the fields of interaction design, virtual reality, and robotic art. He is currently a visiting assistant professor at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, where he directs the...
in his doctoral dissertation and subsequent writings on perceptual robotics
Perceptual Robotics
Perceptual robotics is an interdisciplinary science linking Robotics and Neuroscience. It investigates biologically motivated robot control strategies, concentrating on perceptual rather than cognitive processes and thereby sides with J. J. Gibson's view against the Poverty of the stimulus...
and art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, posthuman factors uses human-centered design as the basis for exploring speculative futures in which the humans in question are no longer human.
In general, posthuman factors addresses the intersection of design practices that includes (1) the design of posthumans, (2) designing for such posthumans, especially in safe and sustainable ways, and (3) designing the design methodologies that will supersede human-centered design (i.e., "posthuman-centered design", or the processes of design that posthumans employ). The field uses speculative approaches of design and design strategy, and is especially skeptical of "humanist" values, mores, and practices in design. In this regard it can be considered an offshoot of critical design
Critical design
Critical Design, takes a critical theory based approach to design. Popularized by Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby through their firm, Dunne & Raby. Critical design uses designed artifacts as an embodied critique or commentary on consumer culture...
, which "will often challenge its audience's preconceptions and expectations thereby provoking new ways of thinking about the object, its use, and the surrounding environment."
Just as the field of human factors
Human factors
Human factors science or human factors technologies is a multidisciplinary field incorporating contributions from psychology, engineering, industrial design, statistics, operations research and anthropometry...
grew out of engineering in reaction to the proliferation of mechanical systems that are dangerous or difficult for humans to use, posthuman factors considers the dangers of not adequately considering the potentially dangerous uses of posthuman systems. It both builds on and opposes the principles of human-centered design, rejecting the humanist values on which much contemporary design practice is based while extending some of the values and ideals it espouses (such as compassion and altruism) to posthuman beings. Like critical design
Critical design
Critical Design, takes a critical theory based approach to design. Popularized by Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby through their firm, Dunne & Raby. Critical design uses designed artifacts as an embodied critique or commentary on consumer culture...
it is "more of an attitude than style or movement; a position rather than a method", but it is ultimately antithetical to "critical" approaches, building instead on design thinking
Design thinking
Design Thinking refers to the methods and processes for investigating ill-defined problems, acquiring information, analyzing knowledge, and positing solutions in the design and planning fields...
practices rooted in personal intuition and self-realization.
See also
- Conceptual Design
- Contestable Futures
- Critical DesignCritical designCritical Design, takes a critical theory based approach to design. Popularized by Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby through their firm, Dunne & Raby. Critical design uses designed artifacts as an embodied critique or commentary on consumer culture...
- Design Fiction
- Design ThinkingDesign thinkingDesign Thinking refers to the methods and processes for investigating ill-defined problems, acquiring information, analyzing knowledge, and positing solutions in the design and planning fields...
- Human-Centered Design
- Human FactorsHuman factorsHuman factors science or human factors technologies is a multidisciplinary field incorporating contributions from psychology, engineering, industrial design, statistics, operations research and anthropometry...
- PosthumanismPosthumanismPosthumanism or post-humanism is a term with five definitions:#Antihumanism: a term applied to a number of thinkers opposed to the project of philosophical anthropology....
- Social Fiction
- Speculative Design