Arts-Based Methods for Generative Friction in Design
DIS2026 Workshop, June, Singapore
We need more critical, collaborative design practices in a world fraught with meta-crisis, both exacerbated and alleviated by design and technology.
This one-day workshop explores how arts-based methods can support this criticality through challenging consensus and encouraging a generative conflict within community-based collaborative design. Drawing on concepts of dissensus (disrupting social consensus), equality in difference (recognising differences as a prerequisite to establishing equality) and transformative praxis (Freirean position of action - reflection - (re)action as a basis for conscientization) we invite participants to examine how positionalities are configured, how conflict can be constructive, and how creative making exercises can open participation and advance diverse standpoints. Participants will engage in rapid, reflexive making activities to access and articulate experience and (re)configure positionalities to cultivate equality in difference and constructive, generative conflict.
This workshop will be useful to researchers, designers and artists who want to use arts-based methods in community-based collaborative design. Participants will gain insights on how positionalities are configured and negotiated, and ideas for how constructive conflict might be evoked in collaborative practices. We focus on how making activities can interrogate harmful norms, advance diverse standpoints, build mutual understanding and support more open and critical participatory processes.
The participatory and collaborative approach taken in this workshop can be applied to many community-based and social justice-oriented art, design and research practices. Arts-based methods in collaborative design practices can support the development of agency, democracy and stronger social bonds through creative exploration and expression. The workshop will support those hoping to embed a more activist, change-making approach to participation in their practices, and those who are interested in how dynamics of making and generative conflict can support understanding complex experiences and social issues.
We ask applicants to submit a position paper (1-2 pages excluding references) outlining a research or collaborative art setting where they encountered struggles around equity / challenges in disrupting harmful consensus / conflict that was not generative. Position papers also need to include a short bio and motivation to join the workshop.
Email designing4dissensus@gmail.com in the ACM single column template. Please also let us know any accessibility needs you might have.
Participants are also asked to bring an object to the workshop that represents the struggle described in their position paper.
Workshop: 14th June 2026
Submission Deadline: 28th May
Final Notifications: 31st May
Submit: designing4dissensus@gmail.com