25.03.25, 19:30, Design x Politics

with Ruben Pater (NL), moderated by Liesbeth Huybrechts (BE)

What is the responsibility of designers in the climate crisis? In a time when the most important communication platforms are owned by a handful of billionaires, and fake news is simply a business model? As a graphic designer and researcher, Ruben Pater explores this question. In his books The Politics of Design (2016) and CAPS LOCK (2021), he investigates the historical connection between capitalism and design, as well as possible alternatives. How can designers contribute to the public good with a view to a livable, sustainable, and just future?

Together with Professor Liesbeth Huybrechts, who has researched the relationship between design and politics, Ruben Pater examines local examples to explore how a conscious design approach and caring design skills can help visualize, shift, and activate relationships—not only between people but also between humans, the built environment, and nature. This lecture is an invitation to critically reflect on the role of design in a time when cultural sensitivity and political responsibility are more urgent than ever.

Ruben Pater (NL)

Ruben Pater is a Dutch designer at a moment in time when more design is about the last thing the world needs. In search of ethical alternatives he designs, writes, and teaches. After receiving his bachelor degree in graphic design in Breda, Ruben Pater worked as a designer for different studios in the Netherlands. His work experience led him to pursue a master degree at the Sandberg institute in Amsterdam, which he completed in 2012. His practice has combined journalism, activism, and graphic design under the name “Untold Stories”. He is the author of two books on visual communication and design; The Politics of Design (BIS, 2016) and CAPS LOCK (Valiz, 2021). His work has received several international awards and is featured in exhibitions around the world. He lives and works in Barcelona and teaches at the Elisava School of Design and Engineering and the BAU college of arts & design.

Liesbeth Huybrechts (BE)

Liesbeth Huybrechts is an Professor working in the fields of participatory design, design anthropology, and spatial transformation processes within the research group Arc, Civic and Policy Design at the Faculty of Architecture and Arts at Hasselt University in Belgium. Her research focuses on designing for/with participatory exchanges and capacity-building processes between humans and the material/natural environment, as well as the ‘politics’ of shaping these relationships. She explores these themes in various research projects (fundamental, funded by the European Union, or commissioned by governments, public, and private organizations), in educational projects, and in her work in coordination and policy.

Design Dialogues

Design x Politics is part of the curated lecture series Design Dialogues organized by the design department of KASK & Conservatorium and Design Museum Gent. Unique voices from the broad field of design are invited to reflect on the role, impact, and future of design in a changing world. Each lecture is a critical dialogue centered around a theme and concludes with an open discussion between the speaker and the audience. Our mission: to provide engaging perspectives that empower design students and enthusiasts to tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow.