Clever Design in Critical Times: Conceptualizing the Callidocene
By (Author) Milena Radzikowska
Edited by Stan Ruecker
Edited by Guilherme Meyer
Edited by Teresa M. Dobson
Contributions by Andrea Hoff
Contributions by Brianna I. Wiens
Contributions by Cliff Shin
Contributions by Colter Wehmeier
Contributions by Gerry Derksen
Contributions by Guilherme Meyer
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
16th October 2025
United States
Professional and Scholarly
Non Fiction
620.82
Hardback
232
Width 152mm, Height 229mm
This edited volume identifies and establishes the idea of the Callidocene, which the authors position as an epoch that both includes and extends beyond the current conception of the Anthropocene.
While the word Anthropocene has become strongly associated with concerns over humanitys impact on the planet, contributors turn instead to the Callidoceneintended to encompass human, machine, and system cleverness to emphasize the hopeful and positive aspects of human influence on the world. Contributors posit that designers in particular have increasingly attempted to consider the impact of their work on society, culture, and the environment, and this book will contribute to this conversation through its analyses of a wide range of topics, including complexity in design, media toxicity, and community innovation in sustainability. Collectively, contributions to this volume highlight the potential of human cleverness to address - or even reverse- the damage weve inflicted on both ourselves and our planet. Scholars of sociology, environmental studies, cultural studies, media studies, and communication will find this book of particular interest.
Teresa M. Dobson is director of the Master of Educational Technology Program and professor of language and literacy education at the University of British Columbia.
Guilherme Meyer is a designer, educator and researcher.
Milena Radzikowska is an established researcher in humanities-based data visualization, feminist human-computer interaction (HCI), and interface design for decision support.
Stan Ruecker is an international design research consultant.