With our attempts to cultivate nature, humankind causes the rising of a next nature, which is wild and unpredictable as ever. Wild systems, genetic surprises, autonomous machinery and splendidly beautiful black flowers. Nature changes along with us.
This autumn 2010 the Next Nature NANO Supermarket will be presented in Eindhoven (NL): a physical supermarket featuring debate–provoking visions on possible nanotech products expected to hit the shelves between today and 2020. We call upon designers, technologists and artists to submit their speculative nanotech products for the NANO supermarket.
Nanotechnology is an emerging field of science that deals with the manipulation of structures on an atomic and molecular scale – the size of one billionth of a meter. Nanotechnology radically intervenes with our notion of what is natural. It may realize dreams people have for themselves and significantly improve our lives, but may also have its downsides: we might as well be designing the penicillin as the asbestos of the future.
This autumn the NANO Supermarket will be presented featuring debate–provoking visions on possible nanotech products expected to hit the shelves between today and 2020. We choose to build a supermarket, rather than a traditional exhibition, because the supermarket is both a futuristic as an ordinary place. The supermarket is a reality machine where new habits, lifestyles and technologies become part of everyday live. Hence, it is the designated location to envision our nanotech future.
Self–cleaning windows, contact lenses with a display, smart medicines that are delivered exactly on the spot, molecular printed food, blush–reducing make-up, self–healing anti scratch surfaces, nano-particle tagging spray that may identify your possessions when stolen, cyborg insects, breathing textiles, tooth phones, organic jewelry, implantable microprocessors and whatever you may think of.
We call you – designers, technologists and artists – to translate current nanotech trends into visionary speculative products that stimulate discussion and debate on our nanotech future. We are seeking for well thought out and designed proposals that take technological, economical, political as well as societal trends in consideration – science faction, rather than science fiction. Product proposals will be judged by an international jury of nanotech experts and design experts.
We welcome anything between a thought provoking sketch and fully–executed products about the hit the shelves. A selection of the proposals will be displayed in the NANO Supermarket. The best proposal is awarded € 2500.
Your submission consists of:
All products will be judged upon originality, design quality, visual presentation, technological feasibility, social-cultural implications, and the extent which your design stimulates debate.
Deadline for submissions is 31th MAY 2010.