Microclimates x Southwark South Design District

University of the Arts London presents new forms of design at the intersection of social and climate justice as part of the London Design Festival.

Microclimates is a global exhibition and festival of events showcasing how new forms of design can intervene at the intersection of social and climate justice delivered with Southwark South Design District as part of the London Design Festival. Throughout the week we’ll explore how ecosystems of multidisciplinary projects can work together to create global change.

The festival runs from the 16th to the 24th of September 2023. Hosted at UAL’s new Hub at Eagle Wharf, a programme of events will run throughout the festival, including panel talks with students and community and industry partners, public workshops and games, and other activities.

The exhibition is free to attend. No ticket is required but registration is encouraged via Eventbrite.

The projects in this exhibition push the boundaries of design and foster future thinking by addressing urgent problems such as food instability, climate migration and the energy crisis. Mapping techniques are an integral part of the project development, as they aid the designers to identify complex problem spaces and gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges. Grounding global problems within local contexts has allowed the designers to develop strategic and interdisciplinary interventions that engage with different communities and create meaningful change.

Empathy and compassion guide the development process, while participatory and co-design approaches help navigate a sustainable transition towards innovative solutions that contribute to the society in a meaningful way.

Microclimates is a celebration of work from Global Collaborative Design Practice, a pioneering new dual award Masters course from Kyoto Institute of Technology (KIT) and Camberwell College of Arts, University of the Arts London (UAL).

The partnership between UAL and KIT combines the strength of arts and science to create a unique experience through the exchange of diverse cultural perspectives that is rooted in collaboration.