To get there: designing together

Dr Rhiannon Jones was invited to speak about the artistic research collaboration known as Kelly + Jones.

As a guest speaker to the Cumulus Contemporary Art working group which was responding to this main conference theme Border Crossings: Pilgrimage to Paris, 2018.

In response to this Jones considered how contemporary artists and designers cross borders in order to collaborate and innovate. The paper presented considered how artists both ask and challenge questions about how artists and designers challenge the integrity of boundaries.

The paper was curated into two parts, the first was a pre-recorded digital paper as an act of considered ideas of invisible boundaries between on and off line, of absence and presence and re-doing and re-making. It discusses how research activities can challenge hierarchical systems that create border lines within H.E and Industry through reflecting on the practice of Kelly + Jones.

The second part of the paper was provided verbally and used the footage shown as a provocation to continue to address these ideas and address the topics of identity, appropriation, collaboration, and hybridity as they pertain to relevant issues in contemporary art and design.

The paper entitled Design without walls: reflections on the collaborative and international practice between Kelly + Jones raised the research question how can art and design theory and practice work across borders?

The paper provided examples of how the artistic research and art and design teaching of Kelly + Jones provide examples of how they have achieved this and challenge it within an international context. The subsequent conversations that took place post presentation within the contemporary art working group were focused on the belief that the various approaches to design research should follow a common path, that aims to stimulate collaborative practice and let innovation and unpredictability break free.

It drew into the discussion with participants in the session about the nature of Cumulus working as the only global association to serve education and research in its disciplines. It questioned the role and place of a forum for partnership, friendship and transfer of knowledge and best practices as a way to create partnerships for research that are flexible, dynamic and diversified friendly forums of exchange, cooperation and innovation.

Notes about Cumulus:
Cumulus promotes and empowers the talent of the next generation of creative and responsible people. Cumulus builds and maintains a dynamic forum bringing together top-level educational institutions from all parts of the world. The cultural diversity of a variety of nations is a source for synergy and excellence. Cumulus was founded in 1990 consisting currently of 257 members from 55 countries and being able to reach a minimum of 755.000 students and thousands of academics, staff and other audience. Cumulus is endorsed by UNESCO.
"For several years in Cumulus (an international art and design organization) I worked with Rhiannon Jones as I chaired the Contemporary Art Workshop. At my invitation she consistently presented projects and led group discussions. Her engaging presentations promoted diversity in art and design at our group meetings in Sweden, Portugal, Italy, France, and Denmark. After my tenure as chair of this workshop/committee, I nominated Dr Rhiannon Jones as Cumulus Contemporary Art Working Group chair person in 2019 - present".
Dr Ann Albritton,
Art History - Contemporary Issues
Ringling College of Art & Design
Sarasota, FL