Real Fiction: Clive Van Heerden & James Auger

May is the perfect time to think idealistically and ideologically about design. The Institute of Design di Angewandte has invited six designers who use multiple methods and practises, crossing between education, research and design business, to contribute to a discussion about imagination, experimentation and cultural practice. Can design infect reality? Can imagination be influential as an instigator of change?

Clive van Heerden has recently established VHM Design Futures, a London based partnership with Jack Mama. Before this he was Senior Director of Design-Led Innovation at Philips Design. One of his main responsibilities in this role was leading the Probes program, which consisted of ‘far-future’ research initiatives that aimed at identifying long-term systemic shifts and anticipating changes in future lifestyles. Examples of Probes projects include Electronic Tattoo, Emotional sensing Dresses and Microbial Home.

James Auger is a partner in the Speculative Design practice Auger-Loizeau whose projects have been published and exhibited internationally, He has worked closely with many scientific and technological research Labs, as a Research Associate at Media Lab Europe(2002-205), with Philips Design, His Phd research is funded by Microsoft Research Labs, Cambridge.