Reimagining and Decolonizing the Language of Design

• Published in: Diseña
• Main Author: Nidhi Singh Rathore
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile 2025-02-01
• Subjects: design methodology; design tools; design research; design studies; storytelling
• Online Access: http://127.0.0.1/index.php/Disena/article/view/83426

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.