Of ‘other’ materialities: why (mobilities) design is central to the future of mobilities research

Ole B. Jensen

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Posthumanist Ethics and Activism Architecture, Modernity, and Design Spatial and Cultural Studies

Abstract

In this article, the notion of materialities is rearticulated as an important field for the future of mobilities research. We focus on the intersection between situational mobilities research and design/architecture. The vocabulary and material imaginary developed within the latter are an important source of inspiration for the future mobilities research interested in the pragmatic question: What makes this particular mobile situation possible? The argument is based on a critique of an abstract and universal notion of materiality or the material. Rather, it is argued, we should partly look at ‘other’ materialities (surfaces, voids, volumes, etc.). Moreover, we should also develop an ‘other’ way of looking at materialities. In other words, the article argues for a need for a view of ‘other’ materialities. The sensitivity to materials, spaces and sensations hereof developed within architecture and design intersects with research into situational mobilities design in two dimensions. Firstly, there are direct links to the ways in which designers and architects perceive, gestate and articulate their ideas about things, spaces and materialities. Secondly, the article draws on the recent thinking within the ‘new materiality’ literature in philosophy as well as in cultural theory. Important lessons are drawn in from across different positions such as non-representational theory, the non-human turn, Object-Oriented-Ontology to mention a few. It is argued that to create the necessary materially sensitive imaginary, mobilities research should be looking to architecture and design, as well as it may profit from engaging with these new materially sensitive thinkers. The article ends with some concrete themes for future research inspired by these intersections and identifies ‘material pragmatism’ as an underpinning set of assumptions for research into mobilities design.

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References

2005Reassembling the Social 1927Being and Time 2010Vibrant Matter 2010Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things 2011Being Alive 2008Non-Representational Theory 2011Being alive essays on movement, knowledge and description 2000Sociology beyond Societies: Mobilities for the Twenty-First Century

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