In 2017, Hackers & Designers investigated forms of dependence and obedience to technologies embedded in our daily working and living environments. In developing an elaborate hands-on program throughout the year, which peaks around July and August during the H&D Summer Academy (HDSA2017), we posed questions such as: How can we, as modern nomadic workers who often do not differentiate between work and private life, look critically at infrastructure, networks, and systems that we rely on? Are we, as steadily connected (net)workers, capable of disconnecting from existing grids? Can we rethink and build self-sustaining environments that shape our future practices in unexpected ways?

Hackers & Designers reflected on their activities in 2017 in this publication. In particular, the learnings and questions raised during the investigation of processes of going on and off the grid are raised. Taking this publication as an opportunity to reach out to the amazing beings who have collaborated with H&D in 2017, self-initiation and hands-on and self-directed approaches to research are encouraged.

For this contribution Vicky De Visser wrote an article that gives insights into an experiment for which she lived one year ‘off the grid’ in a 10 meter long motorboat on the Amsterdam canals.