Hosted by: The Fan Studies Lancaster research network

Supported by: Imagination’s Festival of Futures

Fan studies is a field of research which examines fans, fan cultures and fandom. Although often associated with disciplines such as media studies and english literature, it is an interdisciplinary field that spans a multitude of lenses through which to consider what fans do and fans create.

Design research is the study of design; what designers do, how research can support design, and how design can be a research method for creation of new knowledge. Design is problem-focused, considering ways in which we can design new products, services, and experiences that may require consideration of multiple stakeholders, and address complex ‘wicked’ problems with no single correct solution.

Fan studies and design are both relatively young disciplines, and ones which are familiar with interdisciplinarity, and with co-production and participation. Many fans take part in activities which might be considered design; from production of creative outputs such as fanvids and fanart, to community-led projects for activism, and creating platforms such as Archive of Our Own.

The purpose of this symposium is to bring together fan studies scholars and design researchers to discuss where new exciting research may emerge at the intersection of these two areas. We invite those who work in fan studies, and those who work in design research, or those who are already working between these areas. This joint expertise is not required, only a curiosity about one or both areas.

Examples of topics that might be discussed at the event include:

Brands, marketing and merchandise

Participatory design methods and the acafan
Design of fan platforms
How platform designs and affordances shape practices and community
Design, data storytelling and digital humanities
Fan practice as design – memetics, fanmerch and transformative works
Service design in fan tourism

This event will be a free to attend one-day symposium, with discussion panels in the morning and a zine making workshop in the afternoon where we invite participants to share and co-create research ideas, and present them in the form of zines. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

AGENDA

9:00 Arrival and coffee

9:30 Welcome

9:45 – 10:45 Keynote: Dr Bethan Jones

10:45 – 11:45 Panel Discussion: Digital contexts

Naomi Jacobs
Suzanne Black
Violet Owens
Chris Elsden

11:45 – 12:00 Coffee break

12:00-13:00 Panel Discussion: Material contexts

Eva Cheuk-Yin Li
Sejal Changede
Matt Hills
Sabina Fazli

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch

14:00 – 17:00 Zine-making workshop

Fan Studies and Design Symposium