Decolonizing Design through Justice and Ethnography

How can design, as a practice of knowledge production, actively dismantle colonial hierarchies embedded in everyday objects and systems; reclaiming indigenous epistemologies and fostering autonomy, as urged by critical scholars like Arturo Escobar and Linda Tuhiwai Smith?

This seminar critically examines the pervasive influence of colonial legacies in everyday design contexts, from household objects to digital interfaces and urban infrastructures. By centering decolonial frameworks, the course challenges the dominance of Western-centric design paradigms that marginalize indigenous, non-Western, and community-driven knowledge systems. Through a focus on design justice, ethical engagement, and plurality, students are invited to rethink the values and worldviews that underpin design decisions.

Central to the course is the integration of critical ethnographic methods, with particular emphasis on the creative development and application of Cultural Probe kits as a bridge between theoretical critique and practical inquiry. Through these approaches, the seminar aims to identify sites of resistance, map how coloniality manifests, and foreground collaborative, practice, translating theoretical insight into applied research and context-responsive design praxis.

Punctual attendance is required, with a minimum of 80% of seminar sessions.

Active engagement in seminar discussions and during the collaborative development of cultural probe kits.

Submission of an original written text (1,000-1,500 words, in English) that outlines the research context and offers a discussion of one key theme explored in the course, along with the process and findings from the cultural probe kit. The deadline for submission is February 2nd, 2026.

Any written or presented work generated solely by artificial intelligence, unless appropriately referenced, will not be considered for evaluation. The proof of  originality of the idea/concept is required, if need arises. 

This course takes place in English.