Preparing for the Pluriverse
Description
Project Kaleidoscope helps prepare designers to design in an increasingly multicultural society. Using a framework for a critical self-reflective conversation, the project walks designers through a process of unpacking one’s own lens of the world and reflecting on how it might affect their design practice.
In our increasingly multicultural society, service designers operate within complex societal systems at a high speed. When designers move into projects, they meet a diverse spectrum of people, and navigate different power dynamics. As service design is increasingly accepted as an approach to innovation in public services, designers have moved into positions of more power.
Simultaneously, the socio-cultural climate is changing with more people speaking up about injustice and marginalisation. Within this climate, designers design for culturally diverse humans, and having a culturally humble approach can help designers interact with diverse humans more sensitively.
Cultural humility is a process of critical self reflection with the aim to examine one’s own identity, power and worldview. Having a higher self-awareness will help designers uplift their existing practices, which ultimately could support them in shaping more inclusive design outcomes.
Project Kaleidoscope offers a space for designers to build their critical self reflective muscles. This is enabled through reaction-based exercises, supported by artefacts that externalize related tensions.