“A bringing Together”

“A bringing Together” is an essay and chapter of 'A Social Process of Unknowing Yourself in Real Time': Work on Conversation. An attempt to find form for conversations that unfolded with practitioner-in-residence Kate Briggs. Collecting responses, dialogue, exchange and new writing produced as part of writer and translator Dr Kate Briggs' residency in the School of Fine Art at The Glasgow School of Art, A Social Process of Unknowing Yourself in Real Time restates Gilles Deleuze and Claire Parnet's questions 'What is a conversation? What is it “for”? In a life? In a practice? In a pedagogical setting—like an art school?'. Kate Briggs was in practitioner-in-residence for one year, hosted by the MLitt Art Writing, 2022-2023, and worked with staff and students to consider the site of 'conversation' and practices of conversing, an artfulness requisite to both life and teaching. 'A Social Process of Unknowing Yourself in Real Time': Work on Conversation is edited by Dr Kate Briggs and Dr Laura Haynes, Programme Leader MLitt Art Writing

The Art of Non-Survival

"The Art of Non-Survival" is a short story in the catalogue for Gaby Peters' solo exhibition "next level" at Mannheimer Kunstverein. The text situates Peters' work through a fictional scenario in which members of the public are disappearing from institutional spaces in a made-up town. The mystery is solved through the novel use of artworks held in the local museum's collection, and one of Peters' works is – in the final section of the text – revealed as an articulation of what it is to disappear

Flea Market Painting

In criminology, the ‘Broken Windows Theory’, introduced in 1982 by social scientists Wilson and Kelling, proposes that visible signs of disorder create an urban environment that encourages further disorder. There is an implication that the urban landscape allows a communication of lack of authority and this, in turn, proliferates a disregard for social norms and law. A new social geography emerges leading to a continuous deterioration of culture and community, as disorder becomes more common. The works scrutinize the nuanced relationship between causality and correlation and advocate a complex response to how the urban landscape ultimately can become a site of resistance of marginalised communities and how disorder reflects the complexities of class dynamics. Disorder is reframed as a complex phenomenon, imbued with transformative potential and latent opportunities for societal renewal and magical opportunities. The work submitted to the 'Le Salon D’Echangiste' show aims to not only support STudnet endeavours, and curatorial practices that are interesting, but to also allow itself (as a photograph) to move away from simple representation and to instead consider itself as exchange currenc

Technology: Ethnologic and the creation of MEG

This was an interview for International Womens Day 2025. I was interviewed as a member of Techscaler with Ethnologic a spinout/start up company from GSA. As a female founder and grant recipient, HIE (Highlands & Islands Enterprise) wanted to interview me to find out more about motivation, starting up and MEG. MEG (Menopause Experience Guide) is an emerging technology web based solution powered by AI. As a Digital Holistic Tool, MEG offers guidance regarding PhEMiniNe (Physical, Emotional, Mental, Nutrition) information & furthermore, S+ (social, spiritual, sexual) experiences by women at peri/post menopausal time. MEG is designed to operate within work, health and social settings providing opportunity to self-manage menopause symptoms with support. We have further features in development to add which will optimise the MVP future proofing the technology innovation to include transferable modular capacity that re-imagines the architecture + design to other health/life transitions/conditions and settings including education and research

Designing a level playing field: The design politics of the baby box in Scotland

This article explores the design politics of Scotland’s baby box. Based on a similar government initiative from Finland, the baby box is essentially a large illustrated cardboard box containing around forty items for a baby and a new mother. Since 2017 every child born in Scotland has been entitled to receive a free baby box from the Scottish Government and the box allegedly uses ‘the power of design’ to give every child an equal start in life. By examining the design decisions that underpin the baby box, this article seeks to provide a more nuanced picture of the political uses of design, and to reflect on the changing role, responsibilities and meaning of government when expressed through both design policy and design artefact

An undiscovered country

In our ever-advancing and increasingly digital world, the presence of Artificial Intelligence can sometimes make us feel disconnected. However, the act of MAKING, as a creative and physical endeavor, can have a profound positive impact, especially in the face of AI's influence on creativity, employment and human connection. What are the historic precedents of past technological innovation that we can turn to as examples of when AI is overwhelming to creatives? These precedents can serve as beacons, helping us navigate this path with confidence and some reassurance

Man (on phone)

Photograph 21 x 17 inches In criminology, the ‘Broken Windows Theory’, introduced in 1982 by social scientists Wilson and Kelling, proposes that visible signs of disorder create an urban environment that encourages further disorder. There is an implication that the urban landscape allows a communication of lack of authority and this, in turn, proliferates a disregard for social norms and law. A new social geography emerges leading to a continuous deterioration of culture and community, as disorder becomes more common. The works scrutinize the nuanced relationship between causality and correlation and advocate a complex response to how the urban landscape ultimately can become a site of resistance of marginalised communities and how disorder reflects the complexities of class dynamics. Disorder is reframed as a complex phenomenon, imbued with transformative potential and latent opportunities for societal renewal and magical opportunities. Work was shown in Brussels Street Photography Festival. BSPF presents a diverse range of activities, including exhibitions, photography contests, workshops, guided photo walks, panel discussions, film screenings and portfolio reviews. The festival highlights street photography not only as a way to capture spontaneous urban moments but also as a powerful tool for cultural and social documentation. Through these activities, BSPF fosters engagement between photographers, artists and the public, creating a vibrant space for creative expression. A key highlight of the festival is its international photography contest, where participants can submit their best work in two main categories: ‘Singles’ and ‘Series’. The finalists’ images are displayed in curated exhibitions across Brussels, offering valuable exposure to a wide audience. In addition to the prestige of being showcased, winners also receive cash prizes, further recognising their talent and dedication to street photography. The competition draws thousands of submissions annually, showcasing the creativity and skill of the global street photography community. BSPF collaborates with Leica Camera France and Magnum photographers, who serve as jury members, guest speakers, and workshop mentors. Their involvement brings invaluable expertise and inspiration, allowing participants to learn from some of the most influential voices in contemporary street and documentary photography

Navigating menopause through design - participatory pathways to innovation

The Chronology of a woman determines numerous transitions across her lifespan. Menopause is a transition that begins with subtle changes that may not be noticeable several years prior to menopause; yet impact on the ageing experience. Design and participatory approaches have demonstrated how we can collaborate to define and determine pathways that offer innovative solutions across social, work and health settings. ‘Design Your Menopause Life’ encourages autonomy, curiosity and support as a woman documents, diarizes, and expresses her experience with an awareness of support and empowerment through peers, technologies and professionals. This chapter will discuss the rationale to instigate, design, develop and deliver three concepts aimed at encouraging a call to women to create their journey as they navigate peri-menopause and menopause with an awareness of peer, and professional support through innovative digital and analogue tools and events. These solutions are conceived to offset and alleviate some chronic or age-related conditions enhancing quality of life and inform policy in work and social settings

Sustainable Voices 3 - Interview with Jane Karweick & Gretchen Hammell

Interview with Jane Karweick & Gretchen Hammell, part of the Sustainable Voices Podcast Series The interview considers the long-form content as a counter-proposal to the dominant form of social media. Through the generous support of the Learning and Teaching Department at The Glasgow School of Art, a series of podcasts were recorded that consider the open interview methodology and the long form content in delivery. ‘Sustainable Voices’, developed in a framework of the Student Partnership Programme, considers how climate literacy, sustainable art practices, and environmental challenges affecting the creative industry are thought through. Teh interview examine how long-form content encourages thinking critically, synthesising information , developing a deeper understanding and allowing the formulation of a nuanced and advanced position to take place. Very relevant in recent conversations of consumption of information and content and effect in mental health and skill acquisition, the longform is proposed as a potential antidote to delivery, one that improves retention and understanding and one that ultimately aids to develop both focus and a lifelong learning mindset and how this allows for expanded understandings to occur with regards to subject matters that is not only expansive, but also presents itself to be not only a ‘wicked problem’ (Rittel and Weber) but also a ‘complex one’ (Hawkings and James)

Threadbare

Threadbare is a print produced for the School of Design’s SHOPPING research cluster exhibition in Edward House, Sauchiehall Street, January/February 2025. The print visually represents occupancy, vacancy and active hours for units on the north side of Sauchiehall Street between Charing Cross and Buchanan Street. In doing so, it’s possible to see how the street changes from predominantly nighttime to daytime economies from west to east, as well as revealing the significant impact which vacancy and gap sites have across this section of the street. Textiles offer many metaphors for the built environment. Buildings are said to have a fabric and some have curtains for walls. We talk of urban fabrics and these can be worn and torn. Part of the past fabric of Sauchiehall Street was its many department stores. Places such as Daly & Sons (a part of which now forms Edward House, the site of our exhibition) were where you’d visit to buy your textiles. But today, with its many gap sites and void units, Sauchiehall Street is wearing thin. This project weaves Sauchiehall Street into a data-rich tartan revealing its current threadbare state