10th International Symposium on Design and Research, Leibniz Universität Hannover

Research-related design and design-related research in architecture, urban design and landscape architecture are generated, supported and structured by intentions as conscious purpose and position as well as intended content of perception, thought and action. The symposium will examine modes of action and meanings of intentions. How do they have an orienting, clarifying and dynamic effect within the processes of design and research, and how do they contribute to design and knowledge? What tensions arise between imprint, orientation and the projective, between research, imagination and realization, and how can these be evaluated, communicated and conveyed in a transferable way? Last but not least it is about the relevance of the reflexive handling of intentions in the context of high-quality design of the human living environment. The questions are addressed equally to designers of architecture and landscape, urban planners, as well as artistic designers and theorists.

The focus is on topics ranging from guiding ideas, concepts and horizons, to actors, strategies and forms of work, to media and communication tools as well as on cultural meanings of design and transdisciplinary questions on forms of knowledge. To question the characteristics of intentions in the creative contexts of action and their impact is particularly connected with dimensions of `Reflexive Design ́. This research agenda explicitly emphasizes the gain of knowledge as an inherent part of design processes, strengthens differentiation capabilities, generates specific knowledge about the research-related production of quality in architecture and landscape architecture and makes it accessible — within the disciplines and beyond.

Lectures by international guests from academia and studio practice will contribute to gather preliminary findings, specify fundamental levels of intentions and their interdependencies, and outline areas of possibility and research potential. Overarching aspects of the symposium will be further developed pragmatically and experimentally in discussions. In short lectures, dissertation projects will be presented and reflected in their academic context by a peer review. Each presentation can help to clarify the issues raised by highlighting and discussing insights — in addition to the content, questions and structure of the individual research — on the overarching topic `Intentions ́. In open and informal dialogues on topics and methods, a forum will be opened to the participants to present experiences, knowledge and question horizons, to evaluate and discuss them together and to network.