NeoRural Futures Workshop and Exhibition at RUFA Rome

The summer school NeoRural Futures is underway at RUFA – Rome University of Fine Arts in the San Lorenzo district, exploring how design and new technologies can reconcile nature with the digital. Part of the international Speculative Edu consortium funded by the European Commission, the project investigates design fiction, near future, and critical design. Italian representatives Salvatore Iaconesi and Oriana Persico of HER – Human Ecosystems Relazioni, along with Alex Giordano from the University of Naples Federico II and RuralHack, coordinate the workshop. Giordano defines critical design as considering innovation a dynamic process of shared knowledge that ensures freedom to choose what is truly useful and desirable for communities. The 40 participants, selected from over 100 applicants from Europe, USA, China, Palestine, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Turkey, India, Israel, and South Africa, developed five possible futures for rurality. Their work will be exhibited on September 6 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM at RUFA Space, followed by a concluding conference with international partners from the UK, Croatia, Scotland, and Portugal.