Transformative Teaching

Abstract

Unit X is an Art School cross-department collaborative unit that allows students to work with other disciplines and in a professional context linked with industry, organisational and research partners. This year students worked with local and international partners, focusing on establishing new human-nature relationships in Manchester. This project aimed to create design provocations that enable biodiverse neighbourhoods, where communities meet in social, spatial and ecological ways. Communities are formed where species come together, not only human but all biotic living organisms, plants and fungi. Together they form an intricate balance for all living systems. How can we grow our understanding of living together and reimagine, prototype and test new models and initiatives for future city spaces. Understanding how we ‘garden’ new communities is central. Unit X formed a research lab through creating design teams to test ideas, with input and expertise from our partners. The Noma site is a former banking district but its location is developed and social value has become the new focus. Through interventions the site has potential to host and explore new opportunities which we test hands on during the project. The project collaborates with ArtEZ Institute of the Arts Product Design, alumni, tutors and experts through a series of workshops and fieldwork on site. Students and staff join forces as co-producers to create new ideas and initiate provocations.