HOCA1 – The Fourth Estate Utopias

“The Fourth Estate Utopias” is where it all began.
In the first issue of House of Common Affairs, we ask:
What happens when design takes journalism too seriously—or not seriously enough?
With essays, drawings, and a healthy dose of visual critique, this issue takes on media power, fact-checking aesthetics, and the fictional truths we build into layout, headlines, and type.

Think of it as a survival manual for designers working in the age of misinformation.

Prefect for creatives who care about truth-telling in design; academics in media, journalism, or design; architects and visual storytellers feeling gaslit by performative objectivity.

Designed in East London with low-carbon production in mind
Printed in a limited run—no reprints
Add to your collection before it’s archived forever!

Contents
Introduction by Noortje van Eekelen
Forum 1: ‘An Artist, a Politician, and a Journalist Walk Into a Bar…’ with Belle Phromchanya, Ruben Pater, Ken Hollings, Monika Parrinder, Noortje van Eekelen and participants; moderated by Paula Minelgaite
‘Form, function, content, payroll: micro and macro politics of design,’ essay by Depatriarchise Design
Interviews with Alina Negoita, Chourouk Zarkaoui and Latifah Al-Said
Forum 2: ‘What Do We Want? Clickbait! When Do We Want It? The Answer Will Shock You!’ with Olivier Kugler, Jessie Bond, Theo Inglis and participants; moderated by Paula Minelgaite
‘Parallel channels,’ essay by Jaione Cerrato

Contributors
Alina Negoita is an interdisciplinary artist
Belle Phromchanya is a designer, visual researcher, and filmmaker
Chourouk Zarkaoui is a multidisciplinary designer and communicator
Depatriarchise Design (Anja Neidhardt and Maya Ober) is a research platform focusing on Design Patriarchy
Jaione Cerrato is a graphic designer and artist
Jessie Bond is a writer, researcher, and editor
Ken Hollings is a writer, broadcaster, and cultural theorist
Latifah Al-Said is an artist of British/Omani heritage
Monika Parrinder is a design writer, consultant, and educator
Noortje van Eekelen is the founder and director of ACED
Olivier Kugler is a reportage illustrator
Paula Minelgaite is a designer concerned with the politics of truth
Ruben Pater is a designer and researcher
Theo Inglis is a graphic designer and writer

Details
Sponsored, produced and printed by Pressision Ltd, UK
Paperback, 103 x 195mm, 144 pp
ISSN 2632-4482 01
Edited by Paula Minelgaite
Published by House of Common Affairs, London, UK
Designed by Paula Minelgaite
300 copies printed in total