Remaking, hope and wellness through online connectivity

Abstract

With digital connections through social media platforms becoming more prevalent in our lives and climate anxiety now commonplace there is a need to understand ways to create deeper, more meaningful connections to each other, the things around us and the planet we live on. Handmaking through digital platforms may offer these connection opportunities. Remaking can take that a step further and offer tactile solutions informed by digital connections that can help combat climate anxiety. However, to successfully utilize social media channels we need to better understand how online making promotes well-being (well-making) and how that experience differs from or intersects with making in an offline context. This article explores a making and design approach that can move beyond the social media ‘filter defence’ through collaborative remaking on Instagram, helping people individually and collectively increase our personal (and planetary) well-being.