WeTransfer launches Networked Worlds memo
Final memo in Networked Culture trilogy explores ‘worlding’ as a creative strategy in the 21st century
NEW YORK - 28 March, 2024 - WeTransfer, the most creative platform for sharing ideas, and co-matter, a Berlin-based research and strategy studio, today release a new work of research called ‘Networked Worlds’. The sixty page zine is available to download as a PDF for free via WeTransfer.
‘Networked Worlds’ focuses on worlding as a creative strategy in the early 21st century. As a response to the multiple crises of our time – a crisis of reality, agency and traditional sensemaking structures – worlding is an emergent creative practice of re-imagining and prototyping alternative futures.
Hyper aware of the rules and power structures of dominant narratives and infrastructures, worlding has become a vital strategy for artists and creatives to experiment with alternative futures and render the conditions of the present visible in order to change them. Worlding as such is different from worldbuilding. While the latter has been established by writers, directors, set designers in creating believable imaginary worlds (think Star Wars, Lord of the Rings or the Marvel Universe), worlding signifies the continuous, ever-evolving, collaborative effort of making worlds emerge rather than creating a closed universe by an individual master creator.
Using a variety of technologies, from AI to blockchain to photogrammetry, 3D engines and ancient rituals, the worlds resulting from this practice are an enthralling mixture of the closeup and the systemic.
The projects featured in this memo were selected from an Open Call hosted by WeTransfer earlier this year that resulted in more than 380 submissions from around the world. Following an in-depth selection process with a focus on showcasing a rich diversity of projects that apply worlding as a creative strategy, the ten selected projects were invited to participate in a collaborative research process that resulted in the memo. These projects were:
Morphogenic Angels: Chapter 1, by Keiken
post-office, by Bryan Wolff and the post-office cooperative
Special Fish, by Elliott Cost
Into the Void, by Limbo Accra
Other Spring, by ZZYW
Tale of the Mammoth Goddess, by Wendi Yan
The Orfelia, by Queer Futures Collective
Waluigi’s Purgatory, by dmstfctn
When we Love, by Chia Amisola
While the formats of these worlds featured are diverse - from a queer nightclub experience set in the year 2054 to interactive live performances, desert retreats and collectively owned physical spaces - they’re all attempts at creating reality through the act of worlding.
Networked Worlds is a 60 page research memo created by WeTransfer in collaboration with Berlin-based research and design studio co–matter.
This is the third and final part of Networked Culture, a series of publications that explore the effects of networked technologies on the creative process. The previous two memos of the series are Networked Counterculture (2023) and Networked Reality (2023).
Download PDF memo via WeTransfer HERE
About WeTransfer
WeTransfer, the most creative platform for sharing ideas, makes it easy for creative professionals and creators to share and distribute content, and collaborate with teams. With an average of 80 million monthly active users in 190 countries, WeTransfer is a certified B Corporation™ and a long-time champion of using business as a force for good. Since its founding in 2009, the company has donated up to 30% of its advertising real estate to raise awareness for artists, creative work, and the world’s most pressing issues. In 2021, it launched the Supporting Act Foundation to support emerging artists through bursaries and grants.
Related articles
Olafur Eliasson and CIRCA debut original digital art exclusively on WeTransferThe digital commission is live now until the end of 2024 on WeTransfer platform, accompanying physical works on iconic advertising billboards at London’s Piccadilly Lights, K-Pop Square in Seoul, Kurfürstendamm in Berlin, and New York's Times Square
WeTransfer’s Supporting Act Foundation unveils champions of change for 2024WeTransfer’s Supporting Act Foundation proudly announces its latest donation of €800,000 to 32 emerging artists and community-focused initiatives selected by its independent jury.
Bending Spoons acquires WeTransferWeTransfer joins the Bending Spoons portfolio of digital businesses
Behind the scenes with WeTransfer and Tribeca FestivalWhy we partnered with the iconic film festival for our latest short film launch
WeTransfer launches partner benefits to help subscribers access more creative tools and resourcesThe new program launches with nine exclusive offers from leading creative platforms including MUBI, Adobe, SoundCloud and Skillshare among others
WeTransfer Announces New Animated Short Film The Brown DogThe Steve Buscemi-produced animated short, co-directed by Nadia Hallgren and Jamie-James Medina and starring the late Michael K. Williams, will premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival
WeTransfer’s Supporting Act Foundation announces its 2024 Open Call for grantsExpanding its mission to create opportunities for underrepresented voices in the arts, The Supporting Act Foundation is doubling its funding for artist-led non-profits.
WeTransfer unveils payments to help creatives earn moneyIntegrated payments to roll out globally in 190 countries, following a successful test in North America and Canada
WePresent and Seb Emina present Wild Memory RadioThe audiovisual experience captures memories of creative enlightenment, recorded by artists including Laurie Anderson, Rick Owens and Gilbert & George
WeTransfer and Arroz & Fun present The Day I Met BjörkAn exhibition and exclusive zine of photographs by Spike Jonze, curated by Humberto Leon
WeTransfer names Dara Nasr to scale and lead global advertising businessWeTransfer, the most creative platform for sharing ideas, announces the appointment of Dara Nasr to lead advertising strategy across established hubs in Europe and North America, as well as emerging markets.
€400k for underfunded artists and organisations with a social visionWeTransfer's Supporting Act Foundation continues 'no strings attached' vision for arts funding with second funding round
WePresent announces ‘We Move in Circles’ exhibition with guest curator Russell Tovey remembering artists lost to AIDSThe new exhibition includes: - ‘Life is Excellent’, a new documentary presented by Russell Tovey and WePresent, honoring the legacy of artist David Robilliard - A rare showcase of HIV/AIDS activism through vintage T-Shirts from the era
WeTransfer and Matty Matheson partner for ‘Cookin’ Somethin’ for College’A first-of-its-kind free digital cookbook
WePresent launches Drop SchoolA fly-on-the-wall documentary series exploring hype culture through a young designer’s ‘drop’
Letter from CEO of WeTransferToday, our CEO shared changes to WeTransfer business and outlined the implications for employees. Below is an overview of these changes.
WeTransfer launches Networked Reality memoThe new memo shares insights from creators about making money online while staying true to their creativity
WeTransfer and Barbican launch Julianknxx 'Chorus in Rememory of Flight'The exhibition has been co-commissioned by the Barbican and WePresent by WeTransfer in partnership with Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, with support from 180 Studios and De Singel.
WeTransfer celebrates creativity by releasing limited edition artwork with French illustrator Malika FavreThe original artwork is a first peek at a capsule collection developed with furniture designer Alice Roux, featuring drawings of geometric birds;
WeTransfer’s Supporting Act Foundation promises strings-free funding to emerging artists and community-driven initiativesCreative Bursaries are granted to undergraduate students (18+), offering 10 bursaries of €10,000, paid as monthly instalments of €1,000 (December 2023– September 2024).
WeTransfer: What we've been up to in '22We started this year by launching WeTransfer Premium to simplify the creative process
JUNGLE and WeTransfer drop first-of-its-kind interactive music video for new single ‘Back on 74’As part of the video experience, fans have a chance to win one of the 100 plus tickets to JUNGLE’s upcoming tour. The tickets are hidden in the JUNGLE artworks featured in the music video and are downloadable for free.
Outernet London unveils public digital arts collaboration with WeTransferOuternet London, the major new immersive media and culture district launching this summer today announces a creative partnership with WeTransfer.
WeTransfer launches BLUE NOW in collaboration with Russell ToveyCommissioned by in-house arts platform WePresent, the hybrid digital and physical experience pays tribute to 'Blue' by Derek Jarman 30 years after its completion
WeTransfer launches innovative new brand campaign ft. Jungle‘Think It. Make It. Move It.’ explores turning ideas from concept to reality via first-of-its-kind partnership
WeTransfer announces guest curatorship with Russell ToveyTovey collaborates with WePresent, the arts platform of WeTransfer, on a series of commissions that spotlight the works of LGBTQIA+ artists, including the Oscar-winning platform’s first feature-length documentary
WeTransfer’s Supporting Act Foundation announces recipients of its inaugural grantsGrants and bursaries worth a total of €600,000 are being donated by The Supporting Act Foundation to 26 emerging artists, artist-led initiatives, and grassroots arts organizations
WeTransfer bolsters product innovation and tech infrastructure with a dual senior leadership appointmentDamon Dean hired as Chief Product Officer, formerly of DocuSign; ex-Microsoft Dan Conti promoted to Chief Technology Officer – both based in the US
There's nothing comic about Comic Sans: WeTransfer to support a new campaign for Dyslexia Awareness MonthIn light of Dyslexia Awareness Month, Dyslexia Scotland together with Innocean Berlin and WeTransfer are launching an international campaign speaking exclusively to the design world.
WeTransfer launches ‘Snap Who’ game during London Design Festival for users to learn about unconscious biasWeTransfer, a leading provider of creative productivity tools, today announces the launch of ‘Snap Who’ an online game on wetransfer.com alongside this year’s London Design Festival.