Reimagining and Decolonizing the Language of Design
This article examines how traditional design methodologies predominantly serve Western and colonial interests, urging designers to rethink their foundations through decolonial theories and methods. By grounding the research in the context of migration between Mexico and the United States, it dives...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Diseña |
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| Online Access: | https://revistaapuntes.uc.cl/index.php/Disena/article/view/83426 |
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| _version_ | 1832574409919954944 |
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| author | Nidhi Singh Rathore |
| author_facet | Nidhi Singh Rathore |
| author_sort | Nidhi Singh Rathore |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
This article examines how traditional design methodologies predominantly serve Western and colonial interests, urging designers to rethink their foundations through decolonial theories and methods. By grounding the research in the context of migration between Mexico and the United States, it dives into a case study, proposes textiles and cultural artifacts as design tools, and offers a methodology rooted in oral histories, traditions, and localized design approaches. Using untailored faldas (skirts) as a narrative canvas, it demonstrates an alternative approach to design research that emphasizes learning from collaborative storytelling. The methodology centers on three critical principles: a deep immersion in the research context; conceptualizing stories and experiences as research artifacts; and identifying inherent tensions between researchers and their methodological tools. This approach challenges extractive research methods, celebrating research participants’ lived experiences. By prioritizing narrative, cultural context, and participant agency, the research reframes design as a decolonial practice that values pluralistic ways of knowing and understanding.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e9ee7a8201f84cd3a203a33d7e584fa1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0718-8447 2452-4298 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diseña |
| spelling | doaj-art-e9ee7a8201f84cd3a203a33d7e584fa12025-02-01T15:28:04ZengPontificia Universidad Católica de ChileDiseña0718-84472452-42982025-02-012610.7764/disena.26.Article.8Reimagining and Decolonizing the Language of DesignNidhi Singh Rathore0The George Washington University This article examines how traditional design methodologies predominantly serve Western and colonial interests, urging designers to rethink their foundations through decolonial theories and methods. By grounding the research in the context of migration between Mexico and the United States, it dives into a case study, proposes textiles and cultural artifacts as design tools, and offers a methodology rooted in oral histories, traditions, and localized design approaches. Using untailored faldas (skirts) as a narrative canvas, it demonstrates an alternative approach to design research that emphasizes learning from collaborative storytelling. The methodology centers on three critical principles: a deep immersion in the research context; conceptualizing stories and experiences as research artifacts; and identifying inherent tensions between researchers and their methodological tools. This approach challenges extractive research methods, celebrating research participants’ lived experiences. By prioritizing narrative, cultural context, and participant agency, the research reframes design as a decolonial practice that values pluralistic ways of knowing and understanding. https://revistaapuntes.uc.cl/index.php/Disena/article/view/83426design methodologydesign toolsdesign researchdesign studiesstorytelling |
| spellingShingle | Nidhi Singh Rathore Reimagining and Decolonizing the Language of Design Diseña design methodology design tools design research design studies storytelling |
| title | Reimagining and Decolonizing the Language of Design |
| title_full | Reimagining and Decolonizing the Language of Design |
| title_fullStr | Reimagining and Decolonizing the Language of Design |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reimagining and Decolonizing the Language of Design |
| title_short | Reimagining and Decolonizing the Language of Design |
| title_sort | reimagining and decolonizing the language of design |
| topic | design methodology design tools design research design studies storytelling |
| url | https://revistaapuntes.uc.cl/index.php/Disena/article/view/83426 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nidhisinghrathore reimagininganddecolonizingthelanguageofdesign |