Welcome!

Designing Economic Cultures is a research project that sets out to investigate the relationship between socio-economic precarity and the production of socially and politically engaged design projects.

The fundamental question the project poses is:
how can designers, who through their work want to question and challenge the prevalent economic system, gain a satisfying degree of social and economic security without having to submit themselves to the commercial pressures of the market?  Read more ›

Construction site for non-affirmative practice

Constructive Dismantling

My Castle Is Your Castle

Bust your boss!

Bust your boss*!
During a negotiation about work you have the right,
NOT to remain silent about money.
NOT to subsidise the production from your own pocket.
NOT accept a change of agreed conditions without a renegotiation.
NOT to take this job on the promise of a future!

Bust your boss*!
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK:
What’s the budget?
How much am I getting paid?
How much are YOU getting paid?
When am I getting paid?
Do I get paid sick leaves and holidays?
Will my pay cover a living wage for the period of the project?
What union can I join?
Are there separated budgets for production, expenses and pay?
When shall we agree the terms of the contract?
What is the compensation fee if the work gets cancelled?
Has all the money for the project been raised?
What is the maternity/paternity and pension provision?
Where is the money for the project coming from and what degree of involvement do funders have in my work?
Etc.

*WARNING: In the cultural sector your boss may not look like a boss, they could be your friend, drinking buddy, it might even be you…

The bust card has been printed by the Precarious Workers Brigade.