A public lecture series that explores the complexities of design across its various modalities, from practice and activism to discipline and ways of knowing, and beyond.
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The term counterform is typically associated with negative space in design, but it can also be metaphorically extended to the exploration of new ways of thinking. In this broader sense, counterforms represent the spaces and ideas that challenge and redefine existing concepts and norms—much like how negative space in design defines and shapes positive elements.
By exploring counterforms, one engages with the gaps, contradictions, and oppositional ideas that provoke new perspectives and innovative approaches. This emphasizes the importance of considering what is not immediately apparent or conventional, thereby sparking imagination and intellectual growth.
In this context, counterforms symbolize the underlying structures and voids within existing paradigms, encouraging a deeper examination of what lies beyond the obvious and prompting a rethinking of established beliefs and practices.
Initiated by Trevor Embury in 2024, the project has since evolved into a collaboration with Marcia Higuchi and continues as a space for soft, systemic activism.
Fall 2026
To be announced
Fall 2025
Speaker: Leo Vicenti
September 24, 2025
Speaker: Joni Low
October 6, 2025
Fall 2024
Speaker: Dr. Katherine Gillieson
September 25, 2024
Speaker: Dr. Bonne Zabolotney
October 9, 2024