Pop-up Workshop: Xin Xin on Consentful Software Design

Consentful Software Design

The CSC and Design Center are excited to host interdisciplinary artist and community organizer, Xin Xin, who will demonstrate Togethernet, an open-source software that invites groups of 10 or less participants to build community archives through practices of consent.

Consentful Software Design is a hybrid lecture and an in-person workshop that breaks down the design process of Togethernet, an open-source software that invites groups of 10 or fewer participants to build community archives through practices of consent. Designed around the ethos of data transparency and consent, Togethernet's goal is to transform digital rights policies such as the right to be forgotten into an embodied practice through reimagining software architecture and user experience. This tool and initiative stands on the shoulders of Consentful Tech Zine by Una Lee and Dann Toliver and Design Justice Network Principles ⁠— by considering transparency and consent every step of the way, the source code serves as both a technical and a moral document that seeks to uncover systems of power and uncertainties embedded in network technologies.

This is a great opportunity for those who hope to learn more about Togethernet through participation. We will cover basic HTML / CSS editing to customize alternative designs of Togethernet. This is a hybrid talk and workshop that will take place in person (516 Milstein) and online. In-person attendance is limited to 24 participants.

Schedule:

2-3pm ET: Talk and overview of Togethernet

3-4pm ET: Workshop demonstration

Complimentary Readings

1. Consentful Tech Zine, Una Lee & Dann Toliver
2. Data Healing, Yaa Addae
3. Design Justice Network Principles, Design Justice Network
4. The Consent Checklist, Meg-John Barker
5. Ask: Building Consent Culture, Kitty Stryker
6. Dark Patterns, Alexander Darlington and Harry Brignull
7. Privacy Framework Comparisons (Dec. 2018), Center For Democracy & Technology

Talk and Workshop led by Xin Xin, Assistant Professor of Interaction and Media Design at the Parsons School of Design.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Image

Xin Xin is an interdisciplinary artist and community organizer currently making socially-engaged software that explores the possibilities of reshaping language and power relations. Through mediating, subverting, and innovating modes of social interaction in the digital space, Xin invites participants to relate to one another and experience togetherness in new and unfamiliar ways.

As an artist, their work has been exhibited internationally at Ars Electronica, DIS, Gene Siskel Film Center, Tiger Strikes Asteroid and Machine Project. Most recently their project Togethernet was selected for the 2020 Rapid Response for a Better Digital Future Fellowship at Eyebeam. They are also an 2021 Art of Practice Fellow and Community Leader at the Sundance Institute. As an organizer, Xin co-founded voidLab, a LA-based intersectional feminist collective dedicated to women, trans, and queer folks. They were the Director for Processing Community Day 2019 and they serve on the advisory board for the Processing Foundation.

Born in Taipei, Taiwan and raised in Massachusetts, United States. Xin identifies as a cross-cultural, non-binary, anarcho-feminist and will probably always have a genre-nonconforming practice. Xin received their M.F.A from UCLA Design Media Arts and teaches at Parsons School of Design as an Assistant Professor of Interaction and Media Design.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

This event will take place in person (516 Milstein) and online. In person attendance is limited to 24 people (Columbia-affiliates only). A link to join online will be sent to registrants shortly before the event.

We look forward to seeing you there!