This keynote unpacks and broadens the concept of Queer Spaces from Queer-oriented nightlife venues to a whole plethora of urban and architectural scenarios as well as interrogating the topic through the lens of a career spent attempting to address queerness within the world of design and public space procurement.
It will suggest that Queer spaces are both about how people relate to themselves and each other, as well as the look and feel of the multitude of physical locations in which queer life happens which are often shaped by design professions, but which are just as often not.
Attendees will develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for Queer communities, and see the impact of Queer leadership and creativity within the profession and public spaces. Designers will have takeaways they can apply as they design any space that helps their designs be considerate of / inclusive for Queer folks.
Each year a portion of revenue is donated to Queer-serving organizations. For 2024 these have been identified as Queer ArQuives (Canada) and Queer Britain Museum (United Kingdom) to support their aligned missions of representation and Pride of all Queer communities.
* The term Queer is used with the intention of being inclusive of all 2SLGTBQIA+ persons and related communities.
About the speaker:
Adam Nathaniel Furman, Artist & designer (& author), Creative Director of Atelier ANF. Pleasure & sensuality, craft & consideration, Hon (RIBA)
Vibrant hues and soft shapes define Adam’s imaginative world. An artist and designer based in London, Furman creates elegant, welcoming spaces that encourage free expression and creative wonder. Their work plays with genres, themes, cultural references, and materiality to craft immersive experiences rooted in history and pleasure.
Trained in architecture, Furman now works across diverse scales and disciplines, from painting, videos and prints, to large public artworks, furniture, interiors, and beyond. Their vibrant aesthetic combines diverse influences into a distinctive visual language that is singular and very much their own. Exhibited and collected internationally, Furman's work delights in community, inclusivity, and the transforming power of spaces that provide joy, inspiration, and the permission to be purely oneself.