Designers Shahar Livne and Charlotte McCurdy in conversation with Caitlin Condell, Associate Curator and Head of Drawings, Prints & Graphic Design.

In this discussion, we explore the ways in which designers consider the abundance of materials available to them in the 21st century. As the boundary between ‘synthetic’ and ‘natural’ materials becomes increasingly blurry, Livne and McCurdy use design as a means to reflect on the earth’s resilience. They offer new perspectives on design in the context of long ecological timescales, challenging us to contemplate the role of synthetic materials in the changing landscape of the earth in the age of humankind.

This talk coincides with the exhibition Nature—Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial on view through January 2020.