Agents of Alternatives (2015 , Berlin/Helsinki; co-edited with Alastair Fuad-Luke & Anja-Lisa Hirscher)

Kindly supported by: The Finnish Cultural Foundation SKR, Aalto University, our Sponsume sponsors

The book Agents of Alternatives explores the visions, actions, tools and impacts of ‘alternativ-ists’ who are applying creative practices to forge plausible, alternative ways of working and living. It presents an integrated framework for navigating a collection of essays, interviews and case studies from well-known international contributors and local activists. These originate from diverse fields, including design, the arts, architecture, education, politics, economics, urban planning and city administration, social enterprises, non-governmental organisations, and experts on the Commons. They show how to engage with the locale, communities and distributed diasporas. Through their voices and actions they enable professionals, amateurs and citizens to understand the rich possibilities of creating and designing together in open, participatory and imaginative ways.

Contributors:
Aalto Lab Mexico, A Guidebook of Alternative Nows, Alastair Fuad-Luke, Anja-Lisa Hirscher, Anselma, A year of living Open Source, Bring Your Own Biennale, Cindy Kohtala, Community Lover’s Guide to the Universe, David Bollier, Design Driven City, European Alternatives, Frigga Haug, Global Village Construction Set, Institute of Design Research Vienna, Katharina Moebus, Konzeptwerk Neue Ökonomie, Kuutio, Make{able}, Martin Parker, Michel Bauwens, Neighbourhood Labs, Fashion & Code, Open Green Map, OpenWear, Otto von Busch, Pixelache Festival, Repair Café, Satokartta, Tactical Technology Collective, The Beach Amsterdam, The Public School, Thinkfarm, Trade School, University of the Neighbourhoods, Valerie A. Brown & John A. Harris, workstation ideenwerkstatt e.V., and ZEGG Centre for Experimental Cultural and Social Design.

The book was published through the non-profit organisation AoA (Agents of Alternatives) Berlin e.V., which acted as an independent research collective for social design between 2014-2024.

You can download the book for free here.