Reframing “Black Gooey Universe” through 

the Lens of Conditional Design

Introduction and Core Idea

By reframing American Artist’s Black Gooey Universe through the lens of Conditional Design, we uncover a deeper critique of how graphical user interfaces (GUIs) reinforce cultural hierarchies. While Black Gooey Universe challenges the socio-cultural biases embedded in technology, Conditional Design’s process-oriented framework illuminates how these biases emerge through implicit design rules. As Maurer et al. (2013) argue, “the process is the product,” and the process of GUI development reveals how seemingly neutral choices embed powerful narratives. Could we reimagine GUIs not just as tools for efficiency but as cultural artifacts open to diversity and reinterpretation?

Deconstructing Rules and Logic

The evolution of GUIs exemplifies how design decisions perpetuate cultural assumptions. Early black-background interfaces, stark and utilitarian, gave way to GUIs with white backgrounds, which were intended to evoke paper’s neutrality (Artist, 2018). Yet, as Conditional Design reminds us, no system is truly neutral—every rule stems from subjective intent. The adoption of white as the default background carries implicit connotations of purity and normativity, sidelining blackness both visually and culturally. This shift, though seemingly innocuous, enforces a design logic that prioritizes whiteness as the default aesthetic, mirroring broader societal biases.

Process and Case Analysis

Using Conditional Design’s process-driven framework, the GUI’s evolution can be dissected into inputs, constraints, and emergent outcomes:

– Inputs: Silicon Valley’s cultural landscape, dominated by white male technocrats, shaped the initial conditions for GUI development (Artist, 2018).
– Constraints: The default white background imposed a homogenizing logic that excluded alternative visual languages.

– Emergence: This default became culturally ingrained through everyday user interactions, perpetuating the normalization of whiteness. It’s as if the design world decided every room should have white walls—not because it’s the best choice, but because it’s the easiest.

Critique and Re-Design Potential

Maurer et al. (2013) emphasize that rules should act as creative constraints, not limitations. Reimagining GUIs through this lens means disrupting monocultural norms. For instance, offering a range of background options could make inclusivity the default. Beyond aesthetics, participatory design processes could decentralize decision-making, ensuring that GUI design reflects the needs and cultures of diverse user groups. Could such a reimagining transform GUIs from tools of cultural reinforcement into spaces of dialogue and representation?

Conclusion

Re-presenting Black Gooey Universe via Conditional Design reveals the deeper implications of GUI’s evolution. Design is never just about functionality; it’s a medium through which power and representation flow. By foregrounding openness and variability, Conditional Design offers a pathway to rethink technological systems as platforms for cultural inclusion and equity. The challenge ahead is clear: to craft rules that don’t constrain but liberate the infinite potential of human experience.

References

Artist, A., 2018. Black Gooey Universe. unbag. Available at: https://unbag.net/end/black-gooey-universe/ [Accessed 15 Nov. 2024].

Maurer, L., Paulus, E., Puckey, J. and Wouters, R., 2013. Conditional Design Workbook. Amsterdam: Valiz.