’Patadesign: A pedagogical experiment on Design of Exception, Absurd Artifacts, and Imaginary Interfaces

Abstract

By combining 'Pataphysics with speculative critical design approaches, our goal is to present 'Patadesign: A pedagogical framework and thought experiment that can expand possibilities for design practices. Invented at the turn of the 20th century by French author Alfred Jarry, 'Pataphysics can be defined as the science of imaginary solutions and laws governing exceptions. The collection of ideas explored by pataphysicians worked as a critique of traditional science and its concepts of rationality and progress. So, what does a 'Patadesign practice look like? Can it challenge and redefine designerly ways of thinking and doing? We explored these questions in a class called 'Patadesign: Design of Exception, Absurd Artifacts, and Imaginary Interfaces, taught for three semesters as part of the undergraduate design program at the University of Brasilia. The course was an exception in the curriculum, which was organized mostly according to a modernist agenda. Inspired by the work of Jarry and various pataphysicians, we developed a non-exhaustive list of 'Patadesign principles, including Uselessness, Absurdity, Humor, Bureaucratization, Latency, Exception, Ambiguity, and Equivalence. The purpose was to offer imaginative and provocative counterpoints to traditional design methodologies that resonate with a speculative critical design approach. What kinds of conversations can we inspire through useless cartographies, ambiguous organizations, or poetic services? In this paper, we provide an overview of 'Pataphysics as well as Oulipo and their influence on the 'Patadesign framework. We then present and analyze some examples of student work. Finally, we discuss opportunities that 'Patadesign can bring to contemporary design.