Designers going off-grid — Gentler Futures Festival*

Gentler Futures Festival — Preview session: Designers going off-grid

An informal afternoon of ideas, talks and exchanges, exploring what it means to design today, what are the challenges that twenty-first century designers face and which legacy they hope to leave behind. 

The theme of this event, Designers going off-grid, explores the potential of low-tech tools and decentralised energy production in preparing the design practice for a post-fossil fuel world. Most of the technology we use today—from electric vehicles to the internet—is dependent on resource-intensive global systems and on fossil fuels. How do we transition our lifestyles to exist without them? Which older, simpler technologies can we readapt to contemporary knowledge? And in general, what is the role of design in creating resilient and self-sufficient urban communities? 


About the program

The projects invited for the event, SOS Heater, Sun Factory and Slow Lab, will present their work in a joint session open to anyone and will host 3 hands-on workshops for 15 participants each (attendance upon registration here: https://buytickets.at/bytheendofmay/1101948).


Workshop 01 — Build your own low-energy heater / SOS HEATER

SOS HEATER is a social impact initiative based in Lisbon, aiming to make heating more accessible and sustainable. Their do-it-yourself 250W heater is affordable to use even for those with a tight budget, it is fume-free, operates silently, and provides a spot of warmth in indoor spaces. 

During the workshop participants will learn how to repurpose and combine everyday objects and materials to create a functional low-wattage heater. By the end of the workshop, each participant will be able to take their own heater home and start saving on energy bills while contributing to reducing energy-related pollution. Low wattage also means that the device can be run in small-scale, off-the-grid renewable energy installations.


Workshop 02 — Sun powered plastic recycling / SUN FACTORY

SUN FACTORY‘s mission is to empower communities worldwide with solar thermal and human-powered technologies to transform plastic waste into sustainable products, while implementing intelligent solutions that maximise the value of recycled plastic.

After learning how to identify plastics based on symbols or characteristics, participants will explore the possibilities offered by the prototype tools developed by Sun Factory for the electricity-free plastic recycling process, including a solar concentrator, metal cartridges, and a manual injection machine. Along the process, you will also learn the guidelines for successfully creating an injection mould.


Workshop 03 — Fireless cooker: design and build / SLOW LAB

SLOW LAB is a Barcelona-based collective at the intersection of the slow movement and low-tech, bringing awareness and promoting a resilient lifestyle. They organise social events and design artefacts around how to integrate ancient techniques into the present context and become less dependent on high-technology.

During this workshop, participants are going to learn about slow cooking techniques and discuss their impact on the larger social organisation. Drawing inspiration from ancient knowledge, you will learn how to design and craft contemporary tools more in tune with nature’s pace, by focusing on one that disappeared from modern kitchens: the fireless cooker. By the end of the session, together with the tutor, you will have designed and built a collective fireless cooker, easy to replicate with readily accessible materials.


How to attend

Tickets, granting access to both presentations and hands-on workshops, can be purchased both online and offline (here: https://buytickets.at/bytheendofmay/1101948). Prices vary according to the workshop and reflect the cost of the materials required. The ‘Introduction to the event and to the projects’ session (from 15h00 to 16h00) is open to anyone and free to attend.


About the organisers

BY THE END OF MAY is a research and design studio exploring the roles of manufacturing and crafts in creating a (non-linear), (post-consumerism) and (anti-alienation) economy.

Politécnico de Lisboa is a Higher Education institution that offers a diversified range of courses in the fields of Arts, Business Sciences, Communication, Education, Engineering and Health Sciences. Politécnico de Lisboa is also a member of Distributed Design Platform, a Creative Europe platform aimed at developing and promoting the connection between designers, makers and emerging digital and local markets. Gentler Futures Festival is part of Distributed Design's local activities coordinated by Politécnico de Lisboa. 

Mouraria Creative Hub is the first business incubator in Lisbon that provides support to startups, projects and business ideas related to the creative and cultural industry, particularly in the areas of design, media, fashion, crafts and jewellery.