WORKSHOP 54 01-15/08/2025 ÖZLEM YALIM

AI x VI* -(*) village intelligence-

A Speculative Design Workshop Exploring the Analog World in the Age of

Artificial Intelligence

Yahşibey, August 1-17, 2025

Workshop Lead: Özlem Yalım

Intro:

Design practice begins with words When discussing design and architecture,

we often emphasize their ability to “communicate.” Communication is a

fundamental phenomenon of life, present in everything from tangible

production to architecture, product design, transportation and the list goes on.

The most common tools of communication are verbal and written

expressions. Designers, artists, and architects use lines and design as

communication tools in addition; this is one of the most distinct characteristics

that separate them from the masses.

In the age of artificial intelligence, verbal and written expression skills have

become even more essential. The more masterfully “prompts” (commands)

are given, the more AI responds accordingly—either effectively or weakly.

Moreover, AI learns from our ability to express ourselves.

On the other end of the spectrum, AI’s intelligence is limited to what is

recorded in the digital world. But what about the knowledge of a village—an

analog, unrecorded, internet-free atmosphere? How much of this knowledge

exists in AI? Should it exist? What can AI learn from a village? What does a

village know that AI does not? Which knowledge should it protect (or should it

protect any knowledge at all)? The intelligence of a village is crucial!

What hidden opportunities lie in the gap between artificial intelligence and the

untouched intelligence of a village? To explore this, we must analyze the

intelligence of the village itself.

Speculative design is an area where we create fictional stories, products, and

spaces for the future using today’s knowledge and tools. All work should go

beyond research—it must transform into a story. This workshop aims fictional

narratives in which the protagonist is the village itself, opening doors to the

age of AI.

Objective:

In this speculative design workshop, we aim to explore the impact of AI on

different layers of life, to integrate participants from all design disciplines with

professional training and experience, bringing together various forms of

written, verbal and creative expression. We will delve deep into verbal and

written expression while using the village as our raw material—analyzing and

extracting its intelligence.

Beyond the village’s physical layers, such as its settlement, structures,

natural surroundings, people, animals, plants, and objects, we will also

examine its emotional, social, cultural, and political layers—its stories,

traditions, habits, way of life, and thoughts about the present and future.

All observations will be documented in written form and will be contrasted

with AI’s current state from multiple perspectives. We will conduct

experiments on verbal and written expression skills. From these studies, we

will create speculative designs and stories where the intelligence of the

village becomes the main protagonist, paving the way for the future of AI.

This workshop invites participants to engage in an interdisciplinary

exploration of how artificial intelligence and analog village life can intersect,

leading to new narratives, knowledge systems, and speculative futures.

Output:

All final works will collectively form a “Village Intelligence” pool, incorporating

insights from previous Yahşibey workshops. This accumulation of knowledge

will be analyzed in relation to AI and documented as part of the workshop’s

history.

This project, aligning with the primary need of the AI era, will not only

enhance participants’ verbal and written expression skills but also provide an

opportunity to think, reflect, and produce in important conceptual areas of

design, such as Social Architecture, The Politics of Things, and Fictional

Criticism.

Notes on Goals & Activities:

1. Awareness:

• Where are we, where were we, and where are we going?

• Mapping the village’s layers (physical, social, historical, emotional, political) (Research &

Development)

2. Belonging & Tools:

• Exploring the transmitters of knowledge: body, individual, cultural heritage, collective

consciousness (Theory)

3. Understanding & Narrating the Story of Objects – The Politics of Things:

• Conducting political and historical readings through objects

• Examining relationships between objects, events, periods, surroundings, and daily life

• Investigating how form becomes a way of thinking (Research & Development / Theory /

Performance)

4. Deepening into the Voice of the Silent:

• Can the invisible be seen?

• Can the unspoken be heard?

• Can the unknown be uncovered? (Theory / Performance)

5. Exercises on Expression Tools & Relationships:

• Writing, storytelling, sketching

• Exploring the power of text and expression

• Pushing the boundaries of critique

• Creating space for the courage required in writing and speech (Theory / Practice /

Performance)

6. Design Thinking – First Three Steps:

• Empathy, Definition, Ideation (Theory / Practice)

7. What is Fictocriticism?

• Constructing a fictional story from the village using past, present, and future studies

within the framework of speculative design

Workshop Draft Program:

• August 1st - Meeting and instructions ( all attenders should arrive latest by

14:00 pm.)

• August 2nd - Sightseeing tour

• August 3rd - warm up & formtion of groups / Theoretical introductions for

the key topics

• August 4-13 - Workshop studies including: Practical exercises based on

research and observations / Daily short productions, presentations, and

performances /Text readings, film screenings, and discussion sessions /

Guest speakers and presentations

• August 14-15 - Getting ready for the final presentations, converting the

collective works into a final product (printed or digital publication, a film

composed of drama and performances, etc.)

• August 16th - final presentation

Additional info:

1. The workshop is open to all design students including architecture,

interior design, industrial design, graphic design and new media. 2025

graduates and master/ doctorate students are also welcomed.

2. All applicants should send their letter of will, portfolio and CV to

bilgi@ozlemyalim.com latest by XXX

3. Selected applicants are obliged to attend to an online meeting in July

(date TBC)

4. Selected applicants should arrive by completing the reading list gicen by

the workshop lead.