For Relationship Diversity From a Polyamourous Perspective

• Main Author: Håkansson, Ronja
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för design (DE) 2019
• Subjects: Polyamory; Relationship diversity; LGBTQAI+; Make visible; Design; Quilting
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-90586

In this bachelor project I’m working with a topic close to my heart, in my heart and a matter of the heart. Its about how humans does intimate relationships. Specifically how people in Sweden have relationships that do not follow the monoamorous norm of Swedish society.   This report goes through how one can work with a highly personal topic with the goal to reach out, to awaken awareness and inspire courage in others. How a designer in a student position can have a process that goes back and forth between ”Participating and Listening”, “Talking and Facilitating” and “Thinking and Making”: and how those roles leak into each other, and nurture the over all process.  How did I give visibility to relationship diversity focusing on polyamory and worked withits community? I had a process of searching and experimenting with mediums. Words on twitter and in poems. Gathering people for workshops and conversations. Participating in a polyamourous conference, sending out “Chainletters” among its participants.  Gathering inspiration and information until a materialization was needed. Finding that textile crafts feels as close to home as the topic does. Hands and sewing machines turn intangible into tangible; “My Poly Power Blanket”. The quilted materialization and representation of polyamory goes into our graduation exhibition. Where the blanket gets accompanied by the workshops “Relationship Picnic” and “Make you own Power Patch”. This report gives an overview of the complex process that happened when I worked from my heart, with a subject about hearts; polyamory.