Cars, Goats and Toasters: Exploring Guilt, Failure and Doom
Schedule
Wed Feb 18 2026 at 06:00 pm to 07:30 pm
UTC+00:00Location
Central Saint Martins | London, EN
About this Event
Design researcher Thomas Thwaites will talk about his process of enquiry and critique around issues in sustainable design through his attempts at impossible projects: making an electric toaster from scratch, taking a holiday from being a human by becoming a goat and weaving a harmless car from willow.
The event will be held onsite at Central Saint Martins for UAL students & staff only.
External attendees can watch the event broadcast live on YouTube.
A link will be sent prior to the event start date.
Please select the relevant ticket at the bottom of this page.
About the speaker:
Thomas Thwaites is a critical designer / researcher interested in the social impacts of science and technology.
His work is in the permanent collections of museums including the V&A Museum (London), the Boijmans Museum (Rotterdam), the Banque De France (Cite de l’Economie in Paris), and the Asia Culture Centre (South Korea).
His projects have been exhibited at galleries and museums across six continents, including at the National Museum of China, MoMA New York, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul, the Science Museum (London), the Cooper Hewitt (New York) and La Triennale di Milano (Italy). He has spoken at numerous conferences, including TED and Design Indaba, as well as at universities and businesses worldwide. Press includes features in national newspapers including the New York Times, Sued Detsche and The Financial Times. He has presented a four part television series, aired on Discovery Channel.
He is the author of two acclaimed books; The Toaster Project, and GoatMan. The Toaster Project, documents Thwaites’ attempt to make an electric toaster from scratch. Goatman describes his project to take a holiday from being human by becoming a goat. Both are published by Princeton Architectural Press, and have been translated in to multiple languages.
He’s received multiple awards for his work, including from Prix Ars Electronica, The Wellcome Trust, and the renowned ‘Ig Nobel Prize’ for Biology.
Alongside his practice he currently teaches at Central Saint Martins College, University of the Arts London. Prior to that he was a professor at Rhode Island School of Design. He holds an MA in Design Interactions from the Royal College of Art, and a BSc. in Human Sciences from University College, London.
Where is it happening?
Central Saint Martins, 1 Granary Square, London, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 0.00
