My research work investigates the ‘commons’ as space and process and as a route to reclaiming our shared inheritance and building a sustainable future. There is an urgent need to preserve and protect our natural commons and recognise the value of collective commoning practices that allow citizens to take power with a shared responsibility to steward and take care of nature, knowledge or practices. I use ‘research through design’ methodologies where I am embedded in my local community, working to facilitate the design capabilities of local people.

Commons Sense

Commons Sense is an inquiry into the potential design has to contribute to making visible commons/-ing. In my locality, I ask what people understand about commons and explore where and how commons/-ing takes place. I speculate on what other commons might be possible. I develop designs to communicate commons concepts. Each study attempts to create conditions for dialogue and ways to encourage participation. I discover the importance of situated practice, our relations to nonhuman worlds, the need for diversity and design for every day lives.

Festival as a commons

The co-design of a festival of sustainable ideas called ‘Sustainability on Sea’. An act of commoning, collectively revealing a social ecosystem alongside the creation of new shared knowledge, the festival also acts as a platform for other commoning practices. This research explores how design practices can support, amplify and expand commoning practices. With a ‘research through design’ method I was embedded in the festival team for the duration of the project and designed data visualisations reflecting back on the collective practice.

Walking in search of the commons

A model of sustainable design practice rooted in the commons and acts of commoning. The model consists of a walk for women, the objective of which is to identify common land, currently underutilised, in the public domain for the common good, perhaps as community gardening projects.

http://sarahmacbeth.com/walking-in-search-of-the-commons/

https://vimeo.com/340197576