Governing by design: company towns and the biopolitical project

The presentation explored how design has historically functioned as a tool to shape human autonomy — both as an instrument of control and as a promise of freedom. I examined company towns as spaces where corporate paternalism once dictated not only the built environment but also the lives of workers. I then drew parallels with contemporary forms of spatial and technological design — from algorithmic management to surveillance-driven workspaces — that echo these historical dynamics. By tracing this continuity, the talk invited a critical reflection on the role of design in either empowering or constraining human autonomy in today’s workplace.