Design is the means by which we consciously change our environment, affecting not only our engagement with the world, but also that of other beings who, consciously or not, also shape the world we live in. The rational nature of design can cause us to adopt an abstract and aseptic view of the world, causing us to forget the ecological nature of our existence. To cope with the world's complexity, humans have developed sophisticated abstract models. These models have shaped the technological systems that have allowed us to become hybrid beings who now exist in both a modeled, complex physical world and a complex, model-based virtual realm. How are we adapting to this new environmental awareness? Do we understand the world we inhabit?

At Shaman Garage, we explore new narrative formats that help us understand the dual nature of our hybrid existence. The studio was founded by comic artist Iván McGill and mathematician Pablo San Gregorio. We both have a unique perspective on the world around us. Iván pays close attention to everyday life, and Pablo strives to understand technological systems. These perspectives blend into playful artifacts that direct players' gazes toward ubiquitous aspects of our existence.

In our debut game, Data Garden, we present the virtual life of a content consumer whose daily interactions across various platforms contribute to an ever-growing data ecosystem. In our workshop, Hybrid Worlding, we explore world-building as a narrative engine by inviting participants to collectively shape a digital, playable environment using clay. Human Souvenir critically reflects on the ethics of possession and care, as well as the metrics of human needs. Our most recent piece, Loopscroll, is set in a speculative future that pays homage to internet mythology and celebrates the strange, chaotic beauty of the digital networks we inhabit (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Loopscrool speculative future installation

Through these pieces, we hope to create frameworks that facilitate conversations about our ecological relationship with the world and the technological systems we build that become part of it. Only then can we ensure that our contributions positively impact the world's natural resilience, enabling us to continue engaging with it.