Virtual Colloquium: Maciej Chmara – “Speculate and Make”

We are joined on this Thursday, Nov 27th at 9 am on Zoom by Maciej Chmara for a presentation titled “Speculate and Make”. In this presentation, Maciej explores the intersection of speculative thinking and scientific methodology, demonstrating how theoretical speculation can evolve into applied neuroscience. Drawing inspiration from the design approaches of Dunne & Raby and the philosophical frameworks of speculative realism advocated by thinkers like Armen Avanessian and Quentin Meillassoux, Chmara’s work transcends the boundaries of pure speculation.

Unlike traditional speculative design that often results in “impossible objects”, Chmara’s practice emphasizes materialization. His approach transforms speculative concepts into tangible artifacts that actively engage with contemporary discourse, creating bridges between imagined futures and present realities. This methodology is deeply rooted with maker culture, where the aesthetic practice of creation and the physical realization of objects form the cornerstone of intellectual inquiry.

The presentation will showcase a specific project that exemplifies this transformation from speculative thinking to applied neuroscience. The work challenges the traditional dichotomy between speculation and application, proposing instead a hybrid approach where imaginative thinking catalyzes empirical research and practical implementation.

In an era where reality consistently outpaces fiction, designers must push the boundaries of radical imagination. The challenge today is not whether our speculations are too extreme, but whether they are radical enough to match the complexity and strangeness of our current world. This demands that we, as designers, cultivate genuinely transgressive thinking to create meaningful interventions in an already surreal reality.

Maciej Chmara is a designer, researcher and lecturer, as well as the head of the award-winning design studio chmara.rosinke together with Ania Rosinke. He is working on his doctoral project supervised by Friedrich von Borries (HFBK Hamburg) and Fiona Raby (New School NY). Maciej is a member of Junge Akademie (Leopoldina, the National Academy of Sciences) and teaches currently at different universities. 

Please find below the Zoom link to join, which will be the same for all online sessions this semester:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82954605489?pwd=VP3XBDzVogeuQtLWaXbWEFpm9ObxiQ.1

Meeting-ID: 829 5460 5489
Kenncode: 079532