In 2022, the Driving the Human initiative met its ultimate goal of materializing the Seven Prototypes for Eco-social Renewal.

From November 25–27, 2022, Driving the Human: 7 Prototypes for Eco-social Renewal brought to Berlin a variety of formats exploring new ways of envisioning and inhabiting the world. 

At the Bio Design Lab of the Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design, Human-Bacteria Interfaces‘ Romy Kaiser and Paula Nerlich hosted the workshop “Non-Human Design Lab” as part of the 2022 Future of Life Summer School.

This spring, the seven project authors visited the silent green Kulturquartier in Berlin, where our upcoming Driving the Human: Seven Prototypes for Eco-social Renewal event will take place.

Last May, our seven project authors spent a few days in the countryside outside of Berlin. The long, sunny days allowed for a collective reflection on the many inputs of their intense trip to Germany, as well as cross-pollination of ideas, references and influences.

At the Foundation for Contemporary Art in Accra, Ghana, artist Akwasi Bediako Afrane held his workshop TRONSFORMATION – Sustainability through hacking. There, he lead conversations about our relationship with consumer electronics, and connected participants to collectively build and exhibit their own TRONS.

During their stay in Germany, artist Vincent Rumahloine and community leader Mang Dian took over a square in Pforzheim with artistic interventions while exchanging agricultural knowledge at the Biochili farm in Lampertheim.

From November 25-27, 2022, Driving the Human hosts a three-day festival in Berlin marking the culmination of three years of collaboration, research and experimentation connecting disciplines between sciences and the arts. 

From April 29 to May 1, 2022, the Driving the Human mentorship event in Munich brought together project authors, artists, scientists, and various experts for three days of exchange and a public discussion.

Following our Berlin festival presenting 21 visions for eco-social renewal, the Driving the Human jury had the difficult task to select seven projects to be developed as prototypes throughout 2022.

The three days of exchange and connection in Berlin could be followed along an accompanying livestream. The broadcast of day 1 is now available to be revisited here and on our Vimeo channel. 

We are thrilled to announce the 21 concepts chosen as a result of a successful Open Call. 

Our Open Call resonated with multidisciplinary participants all around the world. The significant response shows how the themes of the project echo with contemporary concerns.

Over the course of three days, the festival combines different formats, interweaving live programming with pre-recorded segments, including panel discussions, film screenings, lectures, performances, talks, workshops and an activation program.