Reintroducing First and Fifteenth
First and Fifteenth is a newsletter by me, Michael Kibedi. I am a design researcher and critical technologist, and I use this newsletter to publish book reviews and my essays on human-computer interaction, ontology, and ecology told through the interpretative lens of Black studies and conceptual art.
The name of this newsletter has a simple explanation – these are the dates each newsletter is published from March through to July.
First
On the first of each month, expect a new book review to be published. I tend to select titles that are about or are related to technology, but often the subjects veer. I am interested in books that address pressing concerns for anyone interesting in critical technology practice and design research.
Fifteenth
On the fifteenth of each month, I publish a new essay exploring themes emerging from the month's earlier book review. You can expect to read about conceptual art, Black studies, design histories, data justice, ontology — to name a few.
And for the rest of the year?
Expect the occasional one-off essay. I might draw in a guest writer. Whatever I publish will be united around my common interest of engaging with the social, political and economic contexts of the people, infrastructures and societies in which their digital products and services are used.
With all that, I promise to respect your inbox and publish no more than twice a month, on the First and Fifteenth.
Where did First and Fifteenth come from?
On 1 November 2023, I launched First & Fifteenth on Substack, and after a year and a half of bi-weekly essays, I put it on a brief hiatus for the last part of 2025.
I am pleased to continue my newsletter at its new home here at first-and-fifteenth.co.
PAN AFRICAN FLAG FOR THE RELIC TRAVELLERS’ ALLIANCE (UNION)
A brief word on the photo at the top of this page.
I frequently pass through Westminster underground station. When I enter from Bridge Street opposite the Palace of Westminster, I take a moment to contemplate PAN AFRICAN FLAG FOR THE RELIC TRAVELLERS’ ALLIANCE (UNION) by the Ghanaian British artist Larry Achiampong.
A rare example of Black cultural expression in the British public realm, this radically reimagined metro symbol stares back at the Houses of Parliament as a reminder of the centuries-old entanglement binding Britain, Africa and the Caribbean.
Its Pan African symbols are on proud display. Red for the blood shed in the fight for liberation. Yellow for Africa's gold and its material wealth. Green for its fertile land. 54 black stars are positioned to represent the 54 nation states of the African continent.
This remixed symbol is emblematic of the mindset I bring to my design research, because as I enter this station, I am reminded that, although part of an international diaspora, I can — we can — dare to dream of liberatory futures.
Help me spread the word
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🎓 Thursday 5 to Friday 6 February 2026, I will be at ‘No & ...’: A Forum on Technological Refusal at Maastricht University. I am presenting a talk called “The Spirit of Bartleby: In defence of refusal.” The event is free and in-person only, but registration is necessary and will remain open until its capacity of 100 is reached.
🗄️ Editions #1-15 of First & Fifteenth was published on Substack at uxmichaelco.substack.com from November 2023 until the end of 2025.