Material Interpellation, Mobilitie Injustice and Dark Design

With the outset in the phenomenon of ‘Dark Design’ (social exclusion of vulnerable citizens in public spaces by design) this paper makes a theoretical and conceptual contribution to mobilities research of social exclusion and mobilities injustice. The concept of ‘material interpellation’ is engaging with the relationship between human and non-Human bodies and artefacts in urban space. ‘Material Interpellation’ shows how on a very detailed level of everyday life practice how spaces and artefacts ‘turn away’ vulnerable citizens by ‘interpellation’ that ‘shout out’ they do not belong in the city. This is for example the case with spikes and leaning benches that makes homeless people feel unwelcome by establishing an ‘atmosphere of rejection’ by the material configuration of bodies, artefacts and spaces. The paper is part of a lager research project into Dark Design, and see the understanding of these micro social practices of exclusion as a vital part of the sustainability challenges in future Cities.