Category: Allgemein

  • on downgrading

    black and white

    low resolution

    no image

    no video

    what do i want/need from digital devices? think, create, learn, connect (in which ways?)

    the higher the resolution, the dumber the content

    economy of means in a time of wreckless wastefulness

    whats does moving from a dynamics of extract/consume/produce to one of respect/reciprocity1/care/repair look like?

    peak oil/peak computer/peak knowledge2

    1. https://www.developmenteducationreview.com/issue/issue-29/women-frontlines-resistance-extractivism ↩︎
    2. p.73 New Dark Age, James Bridle ↩︎

    (in progress)

  • Experimenting with MacPaint

    I’ve been playing with an early version of MacPaint (v.1.5) on a 1985 Macintosh emulator. MacPaint was written by Bill Atkinson; the iconic interface and wonderfully crafted fonts were designed by the genius Susan Kare (who absolutely deserves her own dedicated entry on this page).

    While it still lacks basic text-editing features like selecting, moving, transforming, or modifying text (later versions fixed these limitations), it’s surprisingly fun to use. Honestly, I could see myself downgrading my entire setup and working solely in black and white on a low-resolution screen.

    Here’s a few experiments:

  • there’s no I in writing

    a recent realization: how easy it is for us literate and able bodied to perceive writing as a mere extension of ourselves.

    witnessing this right hand move across paper reminded me of something important about writing’s nature: a mechanical, technological process shaping cognition.

    in german, you say begreifen – to understand is literally to grasp, to handle physically.

    in a state of mechanical trance induced by my pilot g-tec we jotted down in my journal: “write a lot edit little just move with the pen writing is not intellectual it is mechanic the motion is what will take you to the end of the sentence”

    what seemed physiological reveals itself as techno-osmosis – flesh and tool merging into artificial intelligence (augmented). the pen opens a new mode of being, the keyboard enforces a different rhythm to my thinking – fractured by typos, going back to fix them, thoughts circling back.

    with the pen, its deceptive familiarity induces flow states. ink streams continuous thought, unlike ancient quills demanding pause-dip-write rhythms. thoughts slow, adapt, merge with the medium.

    keyboard and finger tips as one entity, pacing and shaping emergence. there’s no “I” here (sorry, descartes) – only agencement: written language’s history, tool constraints, imposed logic, cultural systems, neural patterns, all converging. human-mind-tool-history-culture thinks as one. there’s no “I”, there’s only us.

  • hundred years gilles deleuze

    happy 100th birthday G.D. may our rhizomes spread far and wide, sprouting new assemblages of thought across a thousand plateaus…

    your(/our) ideas continue their symbiotic dance with new minds, deterritorializing old structures and flowing into fresh configurations.

    we celebrate not a tree of influence, but a multiplicity – the endless becoming of your concepts as they mutate and reconnect. our nomadic thoughts still roam free, resisting striation, finding lines of flight.

    our philosophical desiring-machines keep goign, producing new possibilities for thought and action and coexisting and co creating… the plane of immanence remains alive with intensities and affects.

    with molecular joy, rage and love
    a fellow nomadic wandering node

    rhizomes – non-hierarchical networks growing in multiple directions |assemblages – constellations of objects/bodies/expressions functioning together | plateaus – intensive states without climax points | multiplicities – systems of connections without central unity | lines of flight – paths of creative escape from rigid systems | deterritorialization – breaking free from fixed structures/territories | becoming – ongoing process of transformation | desiring-machines – systems producing flows of desire/creation | plane of immanence – field where concepts/forces interact/are created | intensities – degrees of power or difference

    Note: All these philosophical concepts emerged from the collaborative work of both Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari – they are as much Guattari’s as they are Deleuze’s.

  • Postcapitalist Desire – Mark Fisher – Reading List

    Lecture 1: What is Postcapitalism?

    • Nick Srnicek and Alex Williams, “Post-Work Imaginaries” in Inventing the Future: Postcapitalism and World Without Work (2015), p.107-127 (also read “Conclusion”, pp.175-183)
    • J.K. Gibson-Graham, “Affects and Emotions for a Postcapitalist Politics” in A Post-Capitalist Politics (2006), pp.1-22
    • Paul Mason, “The Prophets of Postcapitalism” in PostCapitalism: A Guide to our Future (2015), pp.109-146

    Lecture 2: “A Social and Psychic Revolution of Almost Inconceivable Magnitude”: Countercultural Bohemia as Prefiguration

    • Ellen Willis, “The Family: Love it or Leave it”, in Beginning to See the Light: Sex, Hope and Rock-and Roll (2012), pp.149-168
    • Herbert Marcuse, “The Dialectic of Civilization” in Eros and Civilization (1972), pp.68-83
    • Freud, Civilization and its Discontents (1929)

    (in progress)

  • (a) feminist web manifesto

    Introduction

    This document serves as a living guide to my practice as a web developer/designer/technologist, blending principles from feminist theory, critical perspectives, and everyday work experience. What started as a personal accountability project has evolved into a collection of references and principles on web design that I hope others might also find useful.

    I acknowledge that much of this work remains deeply euro- and anglo-centric in its references—a reflection of the hierarchies within technology and the hegemonies of knowledge production. This limitation is also shaped by the fact that this document is written in english, a language that is not my mother tongue but one I use to communicate on the internet on a daily basis.

    Given the complexity and problematic nature of the topics discussed, I recognize that certain terms and frameworks—such as “inclusive” or “sustainable”—may not always be the most accurate or appropriate. I welcome critique, reflection, and ongoing evolution as part of this document’s development.

    Historical Context & Influences

    This manifesto builds upon decades of feminist design theory and practice, drawing from multiple traditions and movements:

    Key Historical Movements

    • First Wave Feminist Design (1970s-1980s): Characterized by the work of Sheila de Bretteville1 at the Woman’s Building in Los Angeles, establishing core principles of feminist design pedagogy
    • Cyberfeminism (1990s): Emerged with Donna Haraway’s “A Cyborg Manifesto”2 and VNS Matrix’s work, challenging traditional gender roles in digital spaces
    • Intersectional Digital Feminism (2000s-present): Influenced by Kimberlé Crenshaw’s theory of intersectionality3, addressing multiple axes of oppression in digital spaces4

    Core Principles

    Feminist design challenges power structures while promoting inclusivity and creating empowering spaces. These principles are informed by contemporary feminist scholars and practitioners.

    1. Accessibility Is a Feminist Issue

    Influenced by Disability Justice movements and scholars like Liz Jackson5

    We believe:

    • Access to information and digital spaces is a fundamental right
    • Technology should adapt to human needs, not the other way around
    • Design must consider diverse abilities, resources, and contexts
    • Low-bandwidth and offline access options are essential
    • Multiple modes of interaction (text, audio, visual) should be standard

    2. Privacy and Safety by Design

    Drawing from feminist data studies by Catherine D’Ignazio and Lauren Klein6

    We commit to:

    • Protecting users from surveillance and data exploitation
    • Implementing strong privacy controls as the default
    • Creating safe spaces free from harassment and abuse
    • Giving users control over their personal information
    • Transparent data collection and usage policies

    3. Inclusive and Representative Design

    Informed by Design Justice Network principles7 and Sasha Costanza-Chock’s work

    We strive for:

    • Design that reflects diverse human experiences
    • Content that represents multiple perspectives and voices
    • Language that is inclusive and non-discriminatory
    • Images and icons that challenge stereotypes
    • User testing with diverse groups

    4. Democratizing Creation and Knowledge

    Building on FemTechNet’s principles 8and feminist pedagogy

    We advocate for:

    • Open-source tools and technologies
    • Shared knowledge and resources
    • Collaborative creation spaces
    • Documentation in multiple languages
    • Low barriers to entry for content creation

    5. Ecological Justice and Digital Sustainability

    Influenced by ecofeminist principles permacomputing, and low-tech movements9

    We recognize the deep connections between environmental exploitation and social oppression, drawing from ecofeminist thought to reshape our relationship with technology. We pursue:

    Ecofeminist Digital Principles:

    • Recognition of technology’s impact on both human and non-human life
    • Rejection of extractive technological practices
    • Understanding of digital commons as part of ecological commons
    • Cyclical rather than linear approaches to technology
    • Integration of indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge

    Low-Tech Web Practices:

    • Minimal computing approaches prioritizing longevity
    • Text-first content that minimizes resource usage
    • Static site generation over dynamic processing
    • Reduced dependency on heavy frameworks
    • Support for older devices and slower connections

    Permacomputing Guidelines:

    • Design for repair and maintenance
    • Use of durable file formats and protocols
    • Implementation of energy-aware algorithms
    • Focus on local-first computing
    • Embrace of appropriate technology principles

    Practical Implementation:

    • Dark mode and reduced color palettes
    • Compressed images and minimal media
    • Static HTML over JavaScript-heavy applications
    • Offline-first architecture
    • Hardware longevity considerations

    6. Intersectional and Global Perspectives

    Drawing from bell hooks10 and transnational feminist theory

    We recognize:

    • The interconnected nature of oppression
    • Cultural differences in design needs
    • Economic disparities in access
    • The importance of local context
    • The need for diverse decision-makers

    7. Care-Centered Design

    Influenced by feminist ethics of care11

    We prioritize:

    • Repair and maintenance of hardware & software
    • Software longevity12
    • Human wellbeing over engagement metrics
    • Mental health considerations in UX
    • Community building and support
    • Rest and boundaries
    • Genuine connection over artificial engagement

    Implementation Guidelines

    Design Practices

    Informed by Matrix Feminist Design Co-operative methodologies13

    • Use inclusive color palettes and contrast ratios
    • Implement responsive design for all devices
    • Provide clear navigation and wayfinding
    • Create spaces for community feedback
    • Regular accessibility audits
    1. de Bretteville, S. (1974). “A Reexamination of Some Aspects of Feminist Design” ↩︎
    2. Haraway, D. (1985). “A Cyborg Manifesto” ↩︎
    3. Crenshaw, K. (1989). “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex” ↩︎
    4. Bordalejo B, Risam R, eds. (2019) “Intersectionality in Digital Humanities” . ↩︎
    5. Jackson, L. (2018). “We Are the Original Lifehackers” ↩︎
    6. D’Ignazio, C. & Klein, L. (2020). “Data Feminism” ↩︎
    7. Design Justice Network (2018). “Design Justice Network Principles” ↩︎
    8. https://www.femtechnet.org/ ↩︎
    9. Key works in ecofeminism and sustainable computing:
      – Merchant, C. (1980). “The Death of Nature: Women, Ecology, and the Scientific Revolution”Merchant, C. (1980).
      – Shiva, V. (1988). “Staying Alive: Women, Ecology and Development”
      – Hui, Y. (2016). “On the Existence of Digital Objects”
      – https://permacomputing.net/Principles/
      – https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/about/the-solar-website/ ↩︎
    10. hooks, b. (1994). “Teaching to Transgress” ↩︎
    11. The Care Collective, The Care Manifesto , Verso 2020 ↩︎
    12. https://www.archdaily.com/1002972/the-eternal-ephemeral-architecture-of-shikinen-sengu-the-japanese-temple-rebuilt-every-20-years ↩︎
    13. Matrix Feminist Design Co-operative (1984). “Making Space: Women and the Man-Made Environment” ↩︎

    Additional Resources

    Contemporary Feminist Design Collectives and Projects

    Online Archives and Resources

    Sustainable Web Design Communities

    Academic Programs and Research Centers