Research

Speculative Woolgathering: anticipatory evaluation of digital good

How can digital innovation help ensure that the supply chains in the textile and fashion industry are sustainable? And how can these digital futures be collaboratively co-designed and co-evaluated with key stakeholders?

Using wool production in the UK as a case study, the project highlighted the challenges in the supply chain and explored new uses for currently undervalued, natural biodegradable materials. This will help develop an initial ‘anticipatory evaluation’ approach using cards for engaging with considerations of the digital good.

Currently, key challenges in the wool supply chain, such as the lack of data curation, sharing and transparency, affect power dynamics and limits farmers’ market access. The project will explore how technological innovations can drive sustainable supply chains by, for example, addressing the inadequate infrastructure that means wool is often underutilised.

Working with an industry partner, Sustainable Rope Ltd, and collaborating with stakeholders (including farmers, fashion experts, technologists, and policymakers) the project co-created ‘objects from the future’ and developed anticipatory evaluation cards.

Team

Dr Anabel Gutierrez, Senior Lecturer in Digital Marketing and Innovation, Royal Holloway, University of London

Dr Naomi Jacobs, Lecturer in Design Policy and Futures Thinking, Lancaster University

Dr Peter Craigon, Research Fellow at Horizon Digital Economy Research, University of Nottingham

Dr David Perez, Lecturer in Radical Co-Design, Lancaster University

Professor Louise Manning, Professor of Sustainable Agri Food Systems, University of Lincoln

Kate Drury, Sustainable Rope Ltd. CEO, Yorkshire