Abstract

We are more socially, economically, politically, and technologically interdependent than at any time in human history. Radical thinkers Papenek, Packard, Bonsiepe, Shadroff, Manzini, Thackra, and Ryan prepared the ground that grew Natural Capitalism, Life Cycle Analysis, Social Design, the Sustainability Helix, and Biomimicry. Designers’ methods of co-design, design thinking, co-creation, and user experience offered a glimpse of participatory democracy where citizens are engaged in shaping their potential futures. And yet, the “wicked problems” of inequality, instability, and unsustainability remain. This paper is a result of the Plenary session at The Sixteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia, January 19–21, 2022, the substance of which is framed by four questions drawn from Ken Garland’s 1964 clarion call “First Things First.” This paper introduces the Future Arts, Science and Technology Laboratory (FASTLab) at the University of Newcastle through the lens of a series of transdisciplinary projects. Each project responds to Garland’s manifesto. Together, the projects synthesize the knowledge of Garland’s predecessors and successors applied through FASTLab’s approach that ensures all participants are part of a process of change as well as developing their learning and experience.