Making Futures, the research platform developed by Plymouth College of Art exploring the future of contemporary craft and designer-maker practices as ‘change agents’ in 21st century society, particularly in relation to global environmental and sustainability issues, and social innovation and equity agendas, is hosting a two-day pop up forum by invitation at Beijing Design Week, 27-28 September 2014.

Making Futures: Beijing has been developed by Malcom Ferris from PCA in collaboration with Beijing Design Week’s creative director Beatrice Leanza in response to the 2014 Dashilar Pilot program, which includes a dedicated project series of collaborations between local craftsmen and contemporary designers, to restitute value and discover new applications to selected artisanal practices. 

Making Futures: Beijing represents the first attempt to gather China-based perspectives and practices and place these in dialogue with international ones. The event follows the overall Making Futures raison d’être in exploring our relationship to the making of things; if we are to have any hope of making a better future for our communities, we must also fundamentally shape the future of our material cultures. However, the ideas, topics and developments under discussion will bring into focus selected case studies and research relevant to the Chinese context and which remain of significance to many of the pivotal trans-national issues facing contemporary industrial societies. 

The Making Futures project has grown to become the only major international gathering of its kind. The events are conceived as intensive two-day rural ‘retreat’ style conferences, incorporating international keynotes, thematic parallel sessions, research workshops, and practice-based exhibitions. The next iteration, Making Futures 4, will take place in 2015.

For more information about Making Futures: Beijing visit the Beijing Design Week website.