The symposium, hosted by the MA Graphic Media Design course from London College of Communication, will present a critical reader of graphic design-led research that is authored, edited, designed and published by MA GMD course participants with guest contributors. ALWFAV 5 explores how the act of leaning on, with and into a research topic can be regarded as a form of care for the complexities of contemporary society. We ask: ‘Who are we, and who do we care for?’ [1].

Bringing together contributions from Bryony Quinn, Intersections of Care, Futuress, Ramon Tejada and the MA GMD participants who share their emergent design research, ALWFAV 5 approaches the idea of leaning from a particular perspective—the encounter between care and radical transparency in design research. By using graphic design as a critical tool for investigation and divulgation, we build physical and conceptual support structures that provide publics with a route into the research areas we contribute to.

The publication itself will serve as a support structure for the symposium, unfolding in three sections: leaning on, with and into. Through conversations, readings and performances, each part offers space for our contributors to share how their design practice correlates with the notions of leaning through care and radical transparency.

The event will take place at the Swiss Church in London and will be live-streamed via Zoom. On-site tickets are now sold out, but you can still join us online. A link to access the live stream will be emailed to you prior to the event.

[1] Davis, C., Paim, N. (2021) 'Does Design Care?' Futuress.

Available at: http://www.futuress.org/magazine/does-design-care/