Archaeology of Design for Humans

Beatriz Colomina and Mark Wigley's exploration of the intimate relationship between humans and design spans from primitive tools and ornamentation to the constant buzz of modern social media, offering a multilayered examination of the philosophy of design. The authors delve into the intricate interplay between brain and artifact, tracing design's viral spread and its pervasive encroachment on the very fabric of our existence.

The average day, they argue, is punctuated by the experience of countless layers of design, reaching deep into our bodies and minds, and even extending to the planet itself, which has become a geological layer of design. There is no longer an outside to the world of design; it has become an integral part of what it means to be human.

Colomina and Wigley's field notes provide an archaeology of this dynamic relationship, scrutinizing the uniquely plastic connection between humans and the artifacts they create. Their work ranges across millennia, from the last few hundred thousand years to the last few seconds, to uncover the ways in which design has become the vehicle through which humans ask questions and continuously redesign themselves.

Beatriz Colomina, an architectural historian and theorist, has written extensively on the intersections of architecture, art, technology, sexuality, and media. Her work has been published in more than 25 languages, and her books include "Manifesto Architecture: The Ghost of Mies," "Clip/Stamp/Fold: The Radical Architecture of Little Magazines," "Domesticity at War," "Privacy and Publicity: Modern Architecture as Mass Media," and "Sexuality and Space."

Mark Wigley, a professor of architecture at Columbia University, is a historian and theorist who explores the convergence of architecture, art, philosophy, culture, and technology. His books include "Derrida's Haunt: The Architecture of Deconstruction," "White Walls, Designer Dresses: The Fashioning of Modern Architecture," "Constant's New Babylon: The Hyper-Architecture of Desire," and "Buckminster Fuller Inc.: Architecture in the Age of Radio." He is the co-author of "Are We Human: Notes on an Archaeology of Design" with Beatriz Colomina, and has curated numerous exhibitions at prestigious institutions around the world. His latest book is "Cutting Matta-Clark: The Anarchitecture Investigation."

Together, Colomina and Wigley's work offers a profound and thought-provoking exploration of the intimate relationship between humans and design, challenging us to rethink the very nature of our existence and our constant engagement with the designed world around us.

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