Hindsight signifies looking back, evaluating, considering the past in the context of the future or present. As practitioners working amidst the uncertainty of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the authors in this publication ask the question: How will our practices shift, expand, and emerge anew? As the screen becomes increasingly embedded in daily life, this collection of work interrogates images on the pixel-by-pixel level, revealing the interfaces and mechanics of the virtual world. The authors question the social and political dynamics of digital experiences, embracing tweaks, glitches, and reconstructions as new ways of questioning human existence.

As disciplines, design and technology tend towards fast, visual, and intuitive styles of communication. This publication, as a written form, asks for patience and thoughtfulness. In return, the writers open doors into the depths of their work, sharing experiences, insights, and labor behind the scenes. The writers in this publication bring cultural and social context into the light, centering their own stories and those of their communities as part of the larger critical narrative around their work. As the possibilities for sharing work present unfamiliar challenges, Hindsight Reader reveals a rare glimpse into context and significance that would otherwise be lost in the sleek and final products of design and technology.

The Editors | Keaton Feigeles, Anna Garbier, Anna Harsanyi, Cassandra Hradil, Jess Irish, Jamie Keiles, Aliza Mahmood, Carolina Melo, & Karen Nguyen