Shifting the Colonial Gaze

Global Stories

In this panel discussion, we aim to discover how the power play within the global design sector could mirror post-colonialism. What role do organizations and design agents from previously colonized countries play that help in strengthening the settler mentality in their respective countries without intending to? And how can we reverse-engineer it? How are designers from non-Anglo-European countries approaching their own design practices and preserving their identities while moving forward in a non- conforming way? What role can designers from the Western Eurocentric world play in being aware of this and aiding in decolonising design? And how can we foster inclusive exchange? This talk aims to answer all of these questions and rethink the concept of what makes stories global. What is missing from this framework to make design a more inclusive and approachable field for designers from all over the globe? Knowing that, as humans, we share emotions, feelings and thoughts. It is our personal geographical, social, cultural and political backgrounds that dictate what kind of opportunities we are presented, or prohibited from. Moderated by Saskia van Stein Panelists: Siba Sahabi, Rawad Baaklini and Jana Aridi