Terra Incognita

What: Sculpting a new path towards adaptable design. How: With industrial modelling clay, a common tool in car design, Johanna Seelemann creates a series of abstract products that can be continually restyled by the user. An accompanying book brings together narratives on the evolution of aesthetics. What role does appearance play in determining a product’s survival? Why: In an age of sustainability and climate crisis, mass sectors such as the car industry and fashion remain entrenched in patterns where aesthetics remains a dominant force in design. For Johanna, this non-rational focus on the way things look drives modern over-consumption.