Description

Collecting is one of the oldest human practices. Collections preserve memories and are an expression of both individual and collective identity. With digitization, collections increasingly exist in digital form. As a result, the conditions under which collections exist are changing: streaming, for example, alters previously existing ownership structures, algorithms influence selection and the formation of taste, and constantly growing amounts of data lead to digital hoarding among many users due to overload.

The master’s thesis examines the shift in the practices of collecting, preserving, curating, sharing, and deleting in the digital age. Based on everyday phenomena in dealing with private digital collections such as photos, music, communication, and gaming, these changes are observed and contextualized. The aim of the work is to develop a cultural frame of reference and, from this, to derive relevant fields of action and design for design.