Research partnerships
Chris Woebken Studio works with institutions and communities to explore how people could live, learn and make decisions differently. Through fieldwork, scenarios and prototypes, we turn a shared question into something people can experience, discuss and test together.
We develop commissions with cultural organizations, universities, public agencies and research teams. Each partnership begins with the people and place involved, and the question a partner wants to investigate.
Decision simulations and institutional learning
Rehearse a difficult decision before it has to be made. Scenarios, objects and facilitated exercises make assumptions and competing priorities tangible. A commission can include research, simulation materials, pilot sessions and a handbook for continued use.
Public infrastructure and youth-led futures
Invite residents and young people to shape ideas for water, energy, climate adaptation and shared space. Workshops connect lived experience with models and prototypes, supported design development and public presentation.
Ecological research and public experiments
Investigate how institutions recognize the ecological relationships that sustain a place. Field observation and collective inquiry can develop into speculative tools, installations or public experiments, with researchers and local partners.
Selected experience
Futures Gazing
Six immersive learning experiences translated Deep Science Ventures’ venture-scoping methodology for its doctoral program.
Extrapolation Factory, 2023. Project lead: Chris Woebken. Design lead: Grace Mervin. Game design: Saralee Sittigaroon.
New Public Hydrant
Chimere Francis’s Sprinkler Boombox and Isaac Scotland’s Solar Tea Station grew from the Water Is… workshop with Youth Design Center into full-scale prototypes for MoMA.
Workshop facilitators: Tei Carpenter, Immanuel Oni and Chris Woebken. Design development: Agency—Agency and Chris Woebken Studio with the project team. Full credits on the project page.
Alternative Unknowns
Speculative objects and improvised performances explored fictional emergencies, developed in partnership with NYC Emergency Management.
Extrapolation Factory, 2015. Commissioned through apexart. Curation and production: Elliott P. Montgomery and Chris Woebken. Simulation script: Tim Maughan.
How a partnership begins
A paid scoping phase defines the research question, participants, deliverables and what the partner needs to learn or decide. We then develop, test and document the work, agreeing how findings and materials can be used. Chris leads research and creative direction with specialist collaborators as needed.
Resources, participation and credit
Budgets distinguish studio fees for research, creative direction and project management from specialist fees, participant honoraria and production. We agree participation support, credit and rights at the outset.
Where participant concepts drive development, reciprocal commissioning connects institutional resources with authorship and community returns. For New Public Hydrant, workshop participants received honoraria and concept credit; part of the proceeds from MoMA’s acquisition was donated to Youth Design Center.
Start a conversation
Tell us about your question, the people involved and proposed timing. We can develop a scope and budget together.
Discuss a research partnership
hello@chriswoebken.com