Workshop

City Factory

28. September–7.Oktober
Sophienspital, Apollogasse 19, 1070 Wien

IDRV meets Post-Labouratory with Ottonie von Roeder

(6.1) From Labor to Work at VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2018 IDRV meets Post-Labouratory

As part of the Vienna Design Week, the Institute of Design Research Vienna (IDRV) teamed up with designer Ottonie von Roeder to host a unique, thought-provoking temporary office. This collaborative installation explored a pressing question of our era:

What does a future without human labour look like?

The project, titled “From Labour to Work” German, "Arbeit nach der Arbeit", aimed to reimagine the relationship between humans, work, and technology. Visitors were encouraged to confront questions like:

What happens when robots, machines, and ai replace human labour?

What would you teach these technologies about your job?

What passions or pursuits might emerge when work is no longer a necessity?

Through interactive workshops and discussions, participants had the opportunity to envision and design robots that might replace their roles, visualizing the potential for societal transformation. The installation emphasized the potential for automation to enable not just efficiency but a cultural shift—from mandatory labour to meaningful activities driven by passion and desire.

This initiative underscored the dual challenges and opportunities posed by automation. While the prospect of machines replacing human jobs raises valid concerns, it also presents a chance to rethink and redefine our values around work, leisure, and creativity.

The IDRV and Ottonie von Roeder’s collaboration successfully sparked meaningful dialogue, leaving attendees inspired to contemplate a future where work is a choice, not an obligation.