remondist

Remondist refers to adherents of remondism, a contemporary cultural and philosophical current that emphasizes memory-informed practice as a way to navigate rapid social and technological change. Remondists argue that durable social bonds and meaningful design arise when memory, craft, and locally grounded knowledge guide policy, technology, and everyday life. The movement positions memory not as nostalgia but as a resource for evaluating alternatives, repairing what has frayed, and fostering resilient communities.

The term emerged in online discourse and small-press publications in the early 2010s, attributed to a loose network of writers and organizers who circulated manifestos, essays, and community projects. There is no single founder or centralized institution, and remondism remains an umbrella for diverse approaches rather than a rigid doctrine.

Core principles include memory as a usable resource, repair and maintenance as political acts, participatory governance, slow and deliberate change, and an ethical stance toward technology and the environment. Remondists emphasize inclusivity, transparency, and the protection of livelihood and cultural heritage in planning processes.

Practices associated with remondism include community archives and oral-history projects, repair cafes and upcycling workshops, participatory design labs, micro-museums and memory-aware urbanism, and local exchange networks. These activities aim to translate memory into practical outcomes such as policy pilots, better-maintained infrastructure, and culturally aware product design.

Reception of remondism is mixed. Supporters praise its emphasis on community agency and long-term thinking, while critics note its vagueness, uneven implementation, and potential soft subsidies to existing power structures. Some also warn that without clear metrics, remondist initiatives risk becoming performative.

See also: slow movement, humanities of memory, commons theory, participatory design.