Antikythera: Speculative Design-Research Studio Residencies

The Antikythera mechanism was among the earliest known computers. Discovered on the Greek island of Antikythera, it combined calculation, orientation, and cosmology. For this residency programme, “Antikythera” refers to a computational technology that discloses and accelerates the deeper condition of planetary intelligence.

Computation today poses technical challenges and contradictions; it also demands deep political and philosophical reconsideration. Ultimately, it challenges how intelligence comprehends itself. The scientific idea of “climate change,” for example, is a conceptual accomplishment of planetary-scale computation. It is the output of sensors, simulations, and supercomputers. As such, computation has made the contemporary notion of the planetary and the ‘Anthropocene’ conceivable, accountable, and actionable.

Technologies generate ideas as much as ideas generate technologies, but today technology has outpaced theory. All too often the response is to superimpose inherited ideas about ethics, scale, governance, and meaning onto situations that in fact demand a different framework. Instead, the Antikythera program will generate new ideas from a direct interdisciplinary engagement with the past, present and potential futures of planetary computation.

Antikythera’s Affiliate Researchers and practitioners develop a new philosophy, research, and speculative design. The program will host a five-month interdisciplinary and international design-research Studio in early 2023, where Studio Researchers will participate in intensive seminars, design workshops, and prototyping platforms. Studio outputs take form as technology and theory, cinema and code, and platforms and policy that steer computation toward a more viable future.

Antikythera is not an education program. It is an interdisciplinary project-driving think-tank with Affiliate and Studio Researchers. The Antikythera Studio is an intensive research and development program that brings together Affiliate Researchers and Studio Researchers for collaborative projects across the program’s research themes, working in response to carefully crafted briefs. While the Studio builds upon a phased approach previously led by the team at Strelka Institute, it does not offer a postgraduate curriculum to its participants and is based on a different project model.

Antikythera is directed by the philosopher of technology Benjamin Bratton. Antikythera is developed and housed within the Berggruen Institute, and the Studio is supported by One Project.

Antikythera’s five-month speculative design-research Studio runs from February to June 2023. Studio Researchers from diverse professional backgrounds (including all design disciplines, architecture, computer science, economics, philosophy, history, science and technologies studies, political science, digital media, filmmaking, and others) will take part in collaborative design briefs, theory seminars, and technical workshops to create projects contributing to a growing body of research building on the program’s themes. Project outcomes will take form as theory, cinema, software, models, prototypes, policies, and more. Concepts ideated during the Studio may be further developed through a network of supporters after the five-month program. The Studio is directed by designer and creative director Nicolay Boyadjiev.

Antikythera will bring together a diverse cohort of researchers from different backgrounds, disciplines, perspectives, and levels of experience. The Antikythera research themes engage global challenges that necessitate harnessing a diversity of thought and expertise. Anyone who is passionate about the programme's research themes is strongly encouraged to apply. They accept applications from every discipline and background, from established to emerging researchers. Applicants do not need to meet any specific set of educational or professional experiences.

The program is free of costs and split between Los Angeles, Mexico City and Seoul. Studio researchers will be supported with a housing provision and a monthly stipend of 4000 USD per month (or equivalent relative to location) for the duration of the program. The trips to Mexico City and Seoul will be also covered by the program, along with other associated program costs.

The Studio program requires a full-time commitment. PhD researchers completing an advanced research degree related to the core themes must be on sabbatical or leave to participate. Some applicants may also take a leave from industry to participate. There is no part-time participation option.

Applications for the 2023 Studio run from October 4th to November 11th, 2022. Researchers at all levels interested in working on collaborative briefs as part of multidisciplinary research teams are invited to apply.

Applicants will need to complete an online Application Form where they will answer questions describing their interest in the Antikythera program and research themes. Alongside the application form, applicants will also need to submit the following documents alongside the application form:

• CV
• Portfolio PDF (less than 2 MB / 20 pages)
• 1-2 min video intro (see info in Application Form)
• Reference Letter(s) (including contact information)

If you are unable to submit your Reference Letter(s) by November 11th, you can still submit your application. Please inform them at [email protected] with your name in the subject line

For any questions, please refer to the FAQ in this link or contact [email protected]

Deadline: 11 November 2022