Design and Diversity: The Dilemma of Creativity and Cultural Appropriation

The development of postcolonial theories in the 1980s to 1990s impacted theoretical debates in design, arts and cultural studies, criticizing the Eurocentric narratives of the history of culture, arts, and design. As a result, institutionalized initiatives and literacy developed worldwide to open up new perspectives for the theory and terminology of design. In this regard, critical studies pose radical questions of a linear, westernized and, also sexist and classicist understanding of design history and theory. This critical approach, specifically through the rapid digitization since the 2000s, imposes a paradigm shift within the design's educational, economic and practical fields. "Design and Diversity Pro-Seminar" addresses a gap within this shift, focusing on the dilemma of creativity and cultural appropriation for design educators, practitioners and industries. 

Students' presence, active participation in the seminar (at least 80% attendance is required) and the timely submission of the tasks during the winter semester are prerequisites for the final assessment.

The assessment toward graduation with a seminar certificate (2 ECTS) requires:

• 30% for attendance and active participation
• 70% for submitting the seminar’s written exercises + an oral/a recorded 15-minute presentation+ 5-10 slides + 1 page hand-out

Maximum number of participants: 20. This proseminar will be held in English. Presentations and written exercises could be submitted in German or English. Participation in the first session is compulsory, including an introduction to contents, class activities, deadlines, evaluation modes and the arrangement of the presentation dates. This course is a theoretical proseminar with a different workload from practical classes and lectures. Hence, participants should consider enough time for doing research, reading and writing exercises. Due to the ongoing pandemic situation, participants should expect different course formats, including presence, hybrid or virtual. Excluded from the course format, the participants need a computer or laptop with a stable internet connection. Using cell phones is non-desirable for class activities. It is also essential to revise the general functions of the Library system, Zoom, Padlet and Google Drive.