Carolyn Kirschner

Staff details

Position

Lecturer in Design

Department

Design

Email

C.Kirschner (@gold.ac.uk)

Links

Website
carolyn-kirschner.com

Carolyn is a designer and researcher whose work explores complex relationships between humans, ecologies, and machines.

Carolyn is a designer and researcher with a background in architecture. Her work explores the growing entanglements of ecologies and machines in the context of the climate crisis, working with scientific tools and other technologies to produce fragments from alternate or expanded worlds. Her work has been shown at the Centre Pompidou (2023), ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe (2022), the Museum of Modern Art Medellin (2025), Milan Design Week (2024), and JUPITER Hamburg (2023).

Carolyn currently co-leads Year 2 on the BA Design. She previously taught at Parsons School of Design in New York (2019-2023), was a postdoctoral Sawyer Seminar Fellow at The New School (2018-2019), and a fellow of the Designed Realities Studio led by Dunne & Raby (2018-2020). She has held residencies at ZKM (2022), A/D/O Brooklyn (2019-2020), TUD Dresden University of Technology via S+T+ARTS Ec(h)o (2024-2026), and Kilpisjärvi Biological Station via Ars Bioarctica (2026).

Publications and research outputs

Show/Exhibition

S+T+ARTS EC(H)O Showing Kirschner, Carolyn. 2025. S+T+ARTS EC(H)O Showing. In: "S+T+ARTS EC(H)O Showing: Johanna Bruckner, Carolyn Kirschner, Theda Nilsson-Eicke", Galerie der Kustodie im Görges-Bau, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Germany, 24 April - 4 July 2025.
Iconoclash: Slow Squeeze Kirschner, Carolyn. 2025. Iconoclash: Slow Squeeze. In: "Summoning the Ghosts of Modernity", Museum of Modern Art Medellin, Colombia.
16.7 Light Years Kirschner, Carolyn. 2024. 16.7 Light Years. In: "Milan Design Week, 'Sit, Feast on Your Life'", DOPO? Space, Milan, Italy, 15 - 21 April 2024.

Autonomous Tree Planting Robot Kirschner, Carolyn; Price, Robin; Jakusa, Ieva; Oiva, Maria and Herzog, Rico. 2023. Autonomous Tree Planting Robot. In: "City Climate meets Creative Coding Festival", JUPITER Hamburg, Germany, 4 - 6 October 2023.
Archive of Impossible Objects: Globes Raby, Fiona; Dunne, Anthony; Kirschner, Carolyn; Reina, Devon and Voigt, Jonas. 2023. Archive of Impossible Objects: Globes. In: "Space is the Place", MUDAC Lausanne, Switzerland, 8 September 2023 - 4 February 2024.
Iconoclash: Slow Squeeze Kirschner, Carolyn. 2022. Iconoclash: Slow Squeeze. In: "Matter. Non-Matter. Anti-Matter", ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, Germany, 3 December 2022 - 23 April 2023.
Archive of Impossible Objects: Globes Raby, Fiona; Dunne, Anthony; Kirschner, Carolyn; Reina, Devon and Voigt, Jonas. 2022. Archive of Impossible Objects: Globes. In: "Paysages du Design", FRAC Centre-Val de Loire, France, 4 February - 31 July 2022.
Rug in the Shape of the Shadow of a Polar Bear Kirschner, Carolyn. 2021. Rug in the Shape of the Shadow of a Polar Bear. In: "Create COP26", COP26 (virtual exhibition), United Kingdom, 25 October - 12 November 2021.
NO_POLE Kirschner, Carolyn. 2021. NO_POLE. In: "Arctic Makes: Mastering the Remoteness, 10th International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences, ICASS X", Arkhangelsk (virtual exhibition), Russian Federation, 15 - 20 June 2021.
Archive of Impossible Objects: Globes Raby, Fiona; Dunne, Anthony; Kirschner, Carolyn; Reina, Devon and Voigt, Jonas. 2020. Archive of Impossible Objects: Globes. In: "Neurons, Simulated Intelligences", Centre Pompidou, Paris, France, 26 February - 20 April 2020.
Archive of Impossible Objects: Globes Raby, Fiona; Dunne, Anthony; Kirschner, Carolyn; Reina, Devon and Voigt, Jonas. 2019. Archive of Impossible Objects: Globes. In: "Alternatives for Living", Kunstmuseen Krefeld, Germany, 17 March 2019 - 26 January 2020.
Somewhere Around Here Kirschner, Carolyn. 2017. Somewhere Around Here. In: "10x10 Drawing the City", Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), United Kingdom, November 2017.

Conference or Workshop Item

Staying in Dialogue: How Collaborations Between Art and Science Create a Shared Platform Kirschner, Carolyn. 2025. 'Staying in Dialogue: How Collaborations Between Art and Science Create a Shared Platform'. In: Staying in Dialogue: How Collaborations Between Art and Science Create a Shared Platform. Galerie der Kustodie im Görges-Bau, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Germany 23 October 2025.
Art is Not a Soft Drink Kirschner, Carolyn. 2025. 'Art is Not a Soft Drink'. In: Performing Transformation: Shifting Landscapes in Art, Science, and Technology. Schaufler Lab, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Germany 29 - 30 September 2025.
Imaginaries of the Far North: Machine Senses and Digital Ecologies Kirschner, Carolyn. 2024. 'Imaginaries of the Far North: Machine Senses and Digital Ecologies'. In: RIXC Art Science Festival 2024: Symbiotic Sense(s), Open Fields Conference. National Library of Latvia, Latvia 23 - 25 October 2024.

A Case for the Intentional Mis-Use of Scientific Tools and Processes as a Productive Approach to Art/Science Research Kirschner, Carolyn. 2024. 'A Case for the Intentional Mis-Use of Scientific Tools and Processes as a Productive Approach to Art/Science Research'. In: S+T+ARTS Symposium: Exploring the Intersections of Arts, Science, Technology and Society as Catalysts for Change. Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), Barcelona, Spain 29 - 30 October 2024.
Iconoclash: Slow Squeeze Kirschner, Carolyn. 2024. 'Iconoclash: Slow Squeeze'. In: International Academic Seminar of the Master’s in Digital Arts, MAD. Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano Medellin, Colombia 13 March 2025.
A Landscape of False Information: Myths and Models of the Earth's Magnetic Field Kirschner, Carolyn. 2024. 'A Landscape of False Information: Myths and Models of the Earth's Magnetic Field'. In: Narratives and the Social Sciences: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. University of Palermo, Italy 26 - 29 June 2024.
A Landscape of False Information: Myths and Models of the Earth's Magnetic Field Kirschner, Carolyn. 2024. 'A Landscape of False Information: Myths and Models of the Earth's Magnetic Field'. In: International Conference on Myths, Archetypes and Symbols: Models and Alternatives. Birkbeck, University of London, United Kingdom 28 - 29 September 2024.
Tree Planting Robot Workshop Kirschner, Carolyn; Price, Robin; Jakusa, Ieva and Oiva, Maria. 2023. 'Tree Planting Robot Workshop'. In: CodeWeek Hamburg. Bücherhallen Hamburg, Germany 7 - 22 October 2023.
Iconoclash: Slow Squeeze Kirschner, Carolyn. 2023. 'Iconoclash: Slow Squeeze'. In: Moviment Festival. Centre Pompidou, Paris, France 3 May – 14 July 2023.
A Conversation Beyond Matter: Carolyn Kirschner Kirschner, Carolyn. 2022. 'A Conversation Beyond Matter: Carolyn Kirschner'. In: Beyond Matter. ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, Germany 7 October 2022.
Scenes of the Far North: Models, Metrics & Machines Kirschner, Carolyn. 2022. 'Scenes of the Far North: Models, Metrics & Machines'. In: Eco-Scenarios. The New Institute, Hamburg, Germany 15 - 17 June 2023.
Remote Sensing the Arctic: An Exploration of Non-Human Perspectives of the Territory Kirschner, Carolyn. 2021. 'Remote Sensing the Arctic: An Exploration of Non-Human Perspectives of the Territory'. In: Relate North 2021: Everyday Extremes. Tomsk State University, Russian Federation 10 - 12 November 2021.
Remote Sensing the Arctic Ocean: An Exploration of the Alien Ecological Perspectives of Machines Kirschner, Carolyn. 2021. 'Remote Sensing the Arctic Ocean: An Exploration of the Alien Ecological Perspectives of Machines'. In: 4th Renewable Futures Conference 2021: FeLT Futures of Living Technologies. Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway 4 - 5 November 2021.
Electronic Visions of the Arctic Ocean Kirschner, Carolyn. 2021. 'Electronic Visions of the Arctic Ocean'. In: ICASS X: 10th International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences. International Arctic Social Sciences Association, Arkhangelsk, Russian Federation 15 - 20 June 2021.
The Algorithmic Wilderness Kirschner, Carolyn. 2020. 'The Algorithmic Wilderness'. In: Expanded Discussion: Creative Science Track. NEW INC, New Museum, New York, United States 6 October 2020.
Currents: Digital Borders Kirschner, Carolyn. 2020. 'Currents: Digital Borders'. In: Digital Borders. School of Art, Media & Technology, Parsons School of Design, United States 23 September 2020.
Design Research in the Arctic Kirschner, Carolyn. 2020. 'Design Research in the Arctic'. In: Integrated Digital Media Colloquium. New York University (NYU), United States 30 March 2020.
Remote Sensing, Polar Bears, and Geopolitics Kirschner, Carolyn. 2020. 'Remote Sensing, Polar Bears, and Geopolitics'. In: At the Border. A/D/O Brooklyn, United States 10 March 2020.
Searching for Proximity: Remote Sensing Technologies and Geopolitical Tensions in the Far North Kirschner, Carolyn. 2020. 'Searching for Proximity: Remote Sensing Technologies and Geopolitical Tensions in the Far North'. In: EGSO Conference on Proximity. Cornell University, United Kingdom 6 - 7 March 2020.
Digital Technologies and Blurry Borderlands Kirschner, Carolyn. 2019. 'Digital Technologies and Blurry Borderlands'. In: Artists Navigating Digital Borders. Culture Hub, New York, United States 21 November 2019.
What is Speculative Design? Kirschner, Carolyn. 2019. 'What is Speculative Design?'. In: Research & Development Methods. School of Design Strategies, Parsons School of Design, United States 18 November 2019.
NO_POLE Kirschner, Carolyn. 2019. 'NO_POLE'. In: Visual, Spatial, and Material Politics. School of Politics, NSSR New School for Social Research, United States 7 November 2019.
Welcome to the Algorithmic Wilderness Kirschner, Carolyn. 2019. 'Welcome to the Algorithmic Wilderness'. In: Critical Edge Alliance Conference. The New School, New York, United States 6 - 8 June 2019.
Counter-Political Imaginaries Workshop Kirschner, Carolyn; Raby, Fiona and Dunne, Anthony. 2018. 'Counter-Political Imaginaries Workshop'. In: Imaginative Mobilities Sawyer Seminar. The New School, New York, United States 17 November 2018.
Simulations, Bots, and ‘Pataphysics Kirschner, Carolyn. 2018. 'Simulations, Bots, and ‘Pataphysics'. In: ADS4 Alumni Talks. Royal College of Art, United Kingdom 15 February 2018.
Immersive Technologies in Architecture and Design Kirschner, Carolyn. 2018. 'Immersive Technologies in Architecture and Design'. In: Innovate UK, Digital Catapult: Immersive Technologies in Architecture and Design. Digital Catapult, London, United Kingdom 10 January 2018.
The City of Non-Existent Humans Kirschner, Carolyn; Greenall, Tom and Marcaccio, Roberta. 2017. 'The City of Non-Existent Humans'. In: Imaginaries of the Future: Utopia After the Human. Cornell University, United States 11 - 12 April 2017.

Article

Error and Knowledge Production: Productive Tensions at the Intersection of Arts and Sciences Kirschner, Carolyn. 2025. Error and Knowledge Production: Productive Tensions at the Intersection of Arts and Sciences. Artnodes, ISSN 1695-5951
Rug in the Shape of the Shadow of a Polar Bear Kirschner, Carolyn. 2022. Rug in the Shape of the Shadow of a Polar Bear. NOIA, 2,
Ecological Imaginaries Kirschner, Carolyn. 2022. Ecological Imaginaries. The New Institute,

Book Section

Digital Arctic: Through Machine Eyes Kirschner, Carolyn. 2026. Digital Arctic: Through Machine Eyes. In: Pamela Stewart and Leslie Atzmon, eds. Visual Ecologies of Placemaking. London: Bloomsbury Visual Arts. ISBN 9781350224858
Iconoclash: Slow Squeeze. In conversation with Carolyn Kirschner Preiß, Cecilia and Kirschner, Carolyn. 2023. Iconoclash: Slow Squeeze. In conversation with Carolyn Kirschner. In: Lívia Nolasco-Rózsás and Marianne Schädler, eds. Beyond Matter – Within Space: Curatorial and Art Mediation Techniques on the Verge of Virtual Reality. Berlin: Hatje Cantz, pp. 452-457. ISBN 9783775756167
Sensor Landscapes Kirschner, Carolyn. 2021. Sensor Landscapes. In: Gregor Sailer, ed. The Polar Silk Road. Heidelberg: Kehrer Verlag, pp. 256-260. ISBN 9783969000458

Professional Activity

Ars Bioarctica Residency at Kilpisjärvi Biological Station Kirschner, Carolyn. 2026. Ars Bioarctica Residency at Kilpisjärvi Biological Station.
S+T+ARTS Ec(h)o Residency Kirschner, Carolyn. 2024. S+T+ARTS Ec(h)o Residency.
Speculative Design Mentor for Vinnova, Swedish National Innovation Agency Kirschner, Carolyn. 2022. Speculative Design Mentor for Vinnova, Swedish National Innovation Agency.

Project

NO_POLE Kirschner, Carolyn. 2018 - 2025 NO_POLE.
Iconoclash: Slow Squeeze Kirschner, Carolyn. 2022 - 2025 Iconoclash: Slow Squeeze.
Scale Models / There is No Such Thing as a Fish Kirschner, Carolyn. 2024 - 2026 Scale Models / There is No Such Thing as a Fish.