Looking Inside Design Festschrift, Workshop at the Australian Centre for Architectural History, Urban and Cultural Heritage, University of Melbourne and RMIT Design Archives

Abstract

Ode to Edquist in a Zoom Zeitgeist twenty scholars from various locations across Australia The scholars gathered not only to exchange ideas but also to celebrate the multifaceted career of the guest of honour: Emeritus Professor Harriet Edquist of RMIT Convened by Catherine Townsend and Philip Goad (Australian Architectural History, Urban and Cultural of Melbourne), those presenting were also received by a lively panel of Edquist’s colleagues, among them Karen Burns, Peter Raisbeck, Alex Selenitsch, Helen Stuckey, and Laurene Vaughan. Driven by Edquist’s legacy, the symposium’s objective was to traverse disciplinary boundaries, which frequently compartmentalise architecture, design, and exhibitions. Of particular interest was the nexus of entwined histories, a multi-scalar lens, and modes of reciprocal knowledge. The event’s workshop format enabled each contributing scholar to present their work as an in-progress paper, which was then discussed via panel dialogue. This format was in the spirit of Edquist’s long-held determination to promote a culture of discourse within architecture and design academic circles, one that is aware of, and engaged with, its broader audience feedback loop.