“How I stand will not be shaped by who I stand against, but instead by who I stand for, and who I stand with.”

—Pua Case

The title We Are (Not) The Resistance encapsulates the central tension within this studio. On one hand, we acknowledge the importance of resisting systems of oppression, standing in opposition to and pushing back against harmful forces. On the other hand, true transformative change calls us to move beyond mere opposition, which is often reactive, temporary, and defined by that which we oppose. This studio challenges students to reimagine design not just as a tool of resistance, but as a proactive force in building new futures—futures that honour and carry forward the legacies of those who have resisted before us. Rather than being bound by systems of dominance, dispossession, and extraction, these futures are rooted in interdependence, care, and co-creation as we move toward collective liberation.

“There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they're falling in.” 

—Desmond Tutu

This studio will model the futures we strive for—grounded in relationality, reciprocity, and care—inviting students to approach design as a collaborative act of co-creation. We will explore how design can operate beyond our current hierarchical systems, drawing inspiration and building on the legacies of individuals and movements devoted to protecting land, culture, and community to imagine futures based on interdependence and shared responsibility.

Students will examine design’s role within social justice, resistance, and liberation movements—not just in moments of protest but in the sustained work of reimagining and rebuilding societies. Through case studies and critical inquiry, we will explore protest design, counter-narratives, community-led interventions, and the role of design in resisting oppression and creating pathways toward liberatory futures. 

 Students will integrate critical research with creative practice, moving beyond theoretical study to actively contribute to conversations about design’s role in systemic change and ultimately applying these insights to their own projects as they engage in meaningful, collective work.

“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together” 

—Lilla Watson

The studio will not be fixed in its ways, but will morph and adapt to the needs of the collective week by week. It will be a fluid, dynamic and responsive environment in constant evolution, shaped for and by the individuals within it. A place where growth is actively cultivated, tended to, and nurtured. A living, breathing entity that will provide the fertile ground needed for the development of new and exciting ideas. Every individual’s unique perspective contributes to this collective force, ensuring that the studio remains an active and collaborative space for creativity.

Through critical analysis, dialogue, and hands-on experimentation, students will move beyond reactionary responses, engaging in strategies that foster long-term transformation, create design interventions that speculate on new futures, with outputs ranging from visual campaigns to speculative prototypes, digital activism strategies and beyond. Learning will unfold through iterative progress work, peer critiques, and presentations, allowing students to continuously refine and advance their ideas.

“Without new visions we don’t know what to build, only what to knock down. We not only end up confused, rudderless & cynical, but we forget that making a revolution is not a series of clever manoeuvres & tactics, but a process that can and must transform us.”

—Robin D.G. Kelley

This studio will engage in lively dialogues and the exploration of existing and emergent speculative, critical and liberatory directions in design and beyond. We will strive to break free from preconceived notions, societal norms and habitual ways of thinking by developing a more fluid and adaptable mindset essential for navigating uncertainty and change. We will aim to foster an environment of open communication where all voices will be heard and ideas openly shared without fear of judgment or rejection. A place where playfulness and creativity are the norm, a focus on enjoying processivity over productivity, a place that is constantly in motion and flux, with curiosity and wonder as our guides. We will build a culture of experimentation, a willingness to let go of what is not working and seeing failures as opportunities for individual and collective learning and growth.

“The ultimate, hidden truth of the world is that it is something that we make, and could just as easily make differently.”

—David Graeber

This studio will consist of three assessment tasks: research, creative and reflection. The briefs will be made up of a range of milestone deliverables that are interconnected and build upon each other. The idea is that each assignment will set the foundation for the next based on the outcomes and knowledge acquired from the previous tasks, allowing for the edges of each assessment to blur into and interact with each other in a very organic way.

“The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible.” 

—Toni Cade Bambara

We Are Not The Resistance by Michelle Alexander