A Foray Into Not-Quite Companion Species: Design Experiments With Urbananimals As Significant Others

This paper examines the project, Urban Animals
and Us, as a journey - or foray - into the ‘terrain
vague’ between people and (other) animals with
whom we share urban space. Through three design
experiments developed around speculative
prototypes and co-design tools, we attempt to bring
’wild’ urban animals - like magpies and gulls into
contact with the residents of a senior retirement
home, to explore what new practices can arise
between, otherwise, unconnected life-worlds. We
expand the notion of companion species from
philosopher of science Donna Haraway and begin
to position the current project within a growing
interest in animals in contemporary design
research. Through analysis of the design
experiments and the subsequent discussion, we
argue, that a foray into interspecies relations, can
inform the practical research agenda, and, help to
re-articulate the dominant anthropocentricity of
design research.