Europes biggest telco wanted to identify emerging trends at the intersection of art and technology. We conduct seminars, a podcast, and a publication exploring weak signals in art and tech.
Task
The objective was to create an innovative platform that leverages the interplay between art and technology to identify and interpret weak signals, which are early indicators of emerging trends and potential societal changes. This initiative aimed to foster a new strategic foresight approach through seminars, public events, and multimedia content, ultimately culminating in a pocketbook publication.
Challenge
Innovative Approach
Developing a novel strategic foresight method that combines art and technology to detect weak signals.
High-Level Collaboration
Securing support and involvement from senior leadership at Deutsche Telekom AG, particularly Claudia Nemat, the board member for Technology and Innovation.
Comprehensive Engagement
Conducting effective seminars and public events that involve a diverse range of students and high-level experts from various fields.
Effective Dissemination
Creating a tangible and impactful output that can be distributed internationally to share the findings and insights generated by the initiative.
Approach
Strategic Support
Board Member Claudia Nemat provided vital support for the initiative, highlighting its importance and aligning it with Deutsche Telekom AG’s vision for innovation and societal impact.
Exploratory Seminars
Two seminal courses, “Art and Technology: A Research Network” and “Weak Signals: New Narratives in Art and Technology,” were conducted by Professors Lukas Feireiss and Dr. Florian Hadler at the Berlin University of the Arts. These seminars encouraged interdisciplinary collaboration and critical examination of art and technology’s role in society.
Public Engagement
The initiative included two public events and several podcast episodes that explored the relationships between art, science, and technology. These platforms provided opportunities for students and the public to engage with high-level experts, including artists, theorists, and practitioners.
Comprehensive Publication
A pocketbook, designed by Studio Yukiko and published by Spector Books, was produced. This book acts as a glossary of new terminologies and neologisms, presenting human-written and AI-generated texts in a flat-hierarchical manner. It employs a cut-up technique to combine ideas, texts, and images, creating a rich, hypertextual resource filled with hyperlinks and references.
Solution
Innovative Educational Framework
The seminars incorporated experimental teaching methods that blended traditional academic learning with practical, hands-on experiences. Students from various disciplines, including architecture, fine arts, design, and philosophy, participated, making the learning experience rich and diverse.
Interdisciplinary Network
The project fostered an extensive network of professionals and academics. High-profile guests such as Cem A., Sénamé Koffi Agbodjinou, and Aram Bartholl contributed their expertise, offering students a broad spectrum of perspectives on art and technology.
Digital and Physical Outputs
The initiative produced a series of podcasts and public events that engaged a wider audience, while the pocketbook served as a lasting, physical manifestation of the project’s insights and discoveries. The book’s playful design and content structure encouraged critical thinking and exploration of new narratives.
Strategic Foresight through Art
By combining art and technology, the initiative developed a new method of strategic foresight. This approach allowed for the identification of weak signals that could inform and inspire future societal developments.
Outcome
The Art and Technology initiative successfully integrated experimental approaches to strategic foresight with high-level academic and industry collaboration. The support from Claudia Nemat and Deutsche Telekom AG was crucial in ensuring the project’s impact and reach. The seminars, public events, podcasts, and pocketbook not only engaged and educated participants but also provided a valuable resource for understanding and navigating the complexities of modern society through the lens of art and technology.
Claudia Nemat’s endorsement encapsulates the project’s success:
“With Weak Signals we are offering more than a book. We are presenting inspiration to guide us through the exciting maze of technology, art, and its impact on society. It invites you to think critically, question, explore, celebrate, create, and dream. We hope it will inspire you, as it has inspired us, and compel you to tune in to the whispers of change, to help us shape our collective future.”