FLUX 2025: More than self - A celebration of purpose-driven design and innovation

More than self - A celebration of purpose-driven design and innovation

Hosted by the Institute for Creative Futures on 17 June, Flux 2025: More-Than-self explored the intersection of “more-than-human” interfaces, such as multispecies and technological interactions and auto-ethnographic artistic and design practices. 

The one-day programme featured:

• Keynote talks from leading voices in design, social innovation, and speculative futures.
• Thematic panel discussions delving into research topics such as ecological responsibility, embodied methodologies, and inclusive narratives.
• Interactive workshops designed to engage attendees in critical, firsthand exploration of research processes and outcomes.
• A student-led exhibition presenting work from across the MA/MSc and MRes programmes, including visual displays, digital experiences, and collaborative projects.

High-profile speakers including, Angela YT Chan, Ruth Catlow, Spyros Bofylatos, Christie Swallow, and Harun Morrison, contributed to critical conversations on how creative research can embrace and critique the boundaries between self, technology, other species, and broader social justice issues.

The event provided an open, supportive space for students to share their work with peers, staff, and invited guests from academia and industry. It also offered valuable opportunities for networking, reflection, and dialogue around the role of creativity in shaping social and environmental change.

The event concluded with a celebratory reception, bringing together participants to connect, and reflect. Overall, FLUX 2025 functioned as a platform for emerging creative researchers to present forward-thinking work and engage with an audience of peers, academics, and industry professionals.

Dr. Noémi Zajzon, a Design Researcher, also put together a blog including the learnings and reflections on the FLUX 2025 event. Head to our blog page to discover more about this innovative event.  

In this session, Christie Swallow discussed the project Paracologies, developed as part of the research residency at the Design Museum in London. Paracologies thinks-with the Parakeet to understand how we might redefine “nature” in an age of climate crisis.

This talk from Dr. Spyros Bofylatos explores how rigorous introspection enables designers to uncover the tacit, embodied knowledge embedded in their practice, fostering a deeper understanding between creative processes and the complex challenges they aim to address.

This symposium was organised and chaired by Dr. Ksenija Kuzmina and Dr. Pandora Syperek, with assistance by Ania Mokrzycka and in collaboration with the Flux 2025.