Design and the Elastic Mind

Over the past few decades, we have experienced dramatic changes in some of the most established dimensions of human life: time, space, matter and individuality. Today our minds must be able to synthesize such transformations, whether they are working across several time zones, traveling between satellite maps and nanoscale images, gleefully drowning in information or acting fast in order to preserve a bit of down-time. Organized by Paola Antonelli, Museum of Modern Art Curator of Architecture and Design, Design and the Elastic Mind focuses on the ability of designers to grasp momentous advances in technology, science and social mores, and to convert them into useful objects and systems. Included projects range from nanodevices to vehicles, appliances to interfaces and building facades, pragmatic solutions for everyday use to provocative ideas meant to influence our future choices. Designed by award-winning book designer Irma Boom, this volume features essays exploring the promising relationship between design and science by Antonelli, design critic and historian Hugh Aldersey-Williams, visualization design expert Peter Hall and nanophysicist Ted Sargent.