Marion Lagedamont

Profession

BA (Hons) Interaction Design Arts Alumni

College

London College of Communication

Person Type

Alumni

Biography

Interview

Which course did you graduate from?

BA (Hons) Interaction Design Arts (IDA), which is an incredibly amazing, wonderfully bizarre and remarkably clever course led by Joel Karamath who is every bit as remarkably clever as his course.

Where are you from in the world?

I’m super French.

What have you been up to since you graduated? How has your work evolved since you left LCC?

I’ve kept busy. Over the past couple of years I’ve worn many hats, the nicest of which led me to design the first publication from Supra Systems Studio, a research studio based in LCC, and exhibit some work at LCC and the V&A for London Design Festival.

Having kept strong ties with LCC since graduating, I also act as an assistant producer on the MA Service Experience Design and Innovation course every now and then.

I got to work with some friends a couple of times, and am co-curating "This Happened", a series of talks on the processes behind work around technology and interaction design, with my friend and fellow IDA graduate Rosie Allen.

When it comes to my own practice, the evolution of most significance I found is the importance I give to meaning above aesthetics.

Although “meaning” became a priority in my work early on during my degree, the safety net provided by the course allowed me to also focus on different aspects of what my work could look and feel like, moments during which meaning fell second.

I now need my work to be led by critical thinking, to actively address issues I care about. I often find that my best work, the work I will be most passionate about, will come out of anger and frustration.

How would you describe your practice?

My work is influenced by both past studies in Sociology and my IDA experience.

I often describe myself as a critical designer and my practice as inter-disciplinary, sitting at the crossroads of interactive art and critical design.

Projects I carry out stem from societal and techno-cultural issues and the unanswered questions they involve.

I love telling stories, often involving the occult and supernatural, asking questions and challenging ideas through my work while creating unique experiences for an audience.

I have recently developed a certain affection for design ethnography, research and narrations involving the unseen, opaque or unobservable and bringing it forward.

What do you find most challenging/rewarding about making work?

The impostor syndrome. Nothing like self-inflicted Sisyphus-like psychological torture to really get me going on a job. Feeling like a fraud, unqualified for and undeserving of opportunities, about to be found out, is something that I, and so many others, have to deal with on a regular basis.

Although more and more acknowledged, the impostor syndrome can still feel pretty lonely, and is so incredibly hard to discuss with others. Still, this does sometimes sweeten the feeling of accomplishment at the end of a job.

Projects not only become about finishing something, but succeeding while battling the worst aspects of oneself.

The impostor syndrome will, however, be right back for the next project, representing both the most challenging and rewarding parts of making work.

What’s the best show you saw in the last 12 months?

Hands down, Counter Investigations, Forensic Architecture at the ICA, ended just about 10 months ago.

Why did you apply for the LCC Graduate Residency programme?

When the programme was first advertised, a few people - friends, course tutor, and peers, all of whom I am very grateful to - sent me the link, suggesting I should apply. I thought “fiiine”, and looked into the it.

Ultimately, the theme resonated so well with work I wanted to develop, and would give me a unique chance to work around tremendously smart and creative people, it would’ve been silly not to give it a go.

What does the 2019 theme of Space Between mean to you?

We are constantly living in a “Space Between”, drawing from our past and looking into our future.

To me, it is an opportunity to reflect on our technological history and the mistakes that were made along the way, being given a chance to acknowledge them and find out how to avoid making them again in the future, by encouraging and pushing the discussion forward around more inclusive and ethically sound design.

My interpretation of Space Between will be to investigate the tradition of exclusion and bias in the conception and commercialisation of technological products.

With a focus on gender bias, I want to establish a singular strong message about these biases and the urgency in creating more empathic, inclusive technologies.

What are the ideas that you’d like to develop whilst on the Graduate Residency?

When it comes to research on bias and technology, I believe there is a work of translation to be done, to open up the conversation outside of academia.

I want to allow the involvement of a wider audience in understanding both the state and stakes of technological bias, from its roots to its ongoing perpetuation.

During this residency, I will research both the history of technological biases as well as contemporary biases in emerging technologies. Differentiating between and understanding “active” and “passive” bias will also be a significant part of my work.

My end game is to translate my research through storytelling, to create and design both a publication and exhibition pieces which will help document, recognise and lessen the impact of bias in technology.

How would you like to involve the LCC students in your project?

Because of my own experience, I’m choosing to focus on gender-related exclusion and bias in tech, but am looking forward to working with students and having them share their own experiences of biased tech, hoping to involve their stories in my work.

What are the main benefits you think you would get out of the residency?

The most important benefit of this residency is simply time. LCC gives me the opportunity to dedicate time for me to work on something of importance to me that I wouldn’t be able to investigate in such depth in another environment.

Time aside, as a student I’ve always made the most of LCC’s facilities, and I intend to do just that throughout my residency, from Reprographics and Print-finish, to the 3D Workshop and new Creative Lab.

Going hand in hand with the facilities are finally the great members of staff, who always have provided me with great support.

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