Designing Shifts: Making Of Narratives

Our self-identities are shaped by two things—introspection and external influences. Who we are in terms of our personalities, perspectives, and beliefs is largely determined by how we see ourselves and how we see the world. Globalization and technological advancement continue to provide us with unprecedented levels of access to this world. At its advent, globalization enriched us with other cultures and insights not previously available. It provided us with new opportunities in media, trade, and access to information and knowledge. Today there are concerns this may have been at the expense of our cultural diversity, which in turn has affected our sense and uniqueness of self. Whether in the form of mobile lifestyle or through the cultural convergence of mass media and exchange of goods, individuals around the globe are affected by the often overwhelming pace of change in their surrounding social contexts. In consequence, the concept of identity and the need for a sense of self are critical. This study addresses, in part, a concurrent cultural context within which loss of identity and loss of belongingness have occurred. For instance, as a self-identified transcultural person, early explorations of this thesis began within a specific segment of transcultural identities (1) —a cultural group that emerged due to the complex cultural exchanges of globalization leading to such loss of stable identity and belongingness. This phase not only afforded the initial context of this research but also provided an understanding of self as relational to other people and things. Responding to this new understanding, a series of case studies were conducted to explore how design can help shift our perspectives on the way we think about making and the interaction between persons and things. A generative approach provides new insights; in this type of inquiry, knowledge created from one study influences the development of subsequent research activities. The continuity of this responsive and reactive process led to the formation of Making of Narratives, a practice-led design framework delivered through model and practice. It is a conceptual framework in that it offers a context and conditions (scope/structure) for making meaning and sense of our relationship between persons and things. Within this framework, a set of guidelines are suggested to allow variations of models to be built through iterative and reflective practice. Modelling provides a site for narratives to be tangibly visualized, and practice affords space for introspection and co-creation. Together, model and practice constitute this framework as a tool to attain a deeper understanding of self and others; this, in turn, can lead to fostering a sense of belonging (2) and community. It emphasizes the value of gestural engagement—kinesthesia of the hand and body—in the simple making (3) process as a means to discover, impart and transfer embodied sensory-perceptual knowledge. Making of Narratives offers designers an alternative approach for generative design research and knowledge creation. This design research explores the potential of storytelling through material practice, specifically through acts of simple making, as a means to help shift our perspectives and deepen understanding of self and others in the midst of the rapid changes in the current era of globalization. (1) Transcultural identity: People who undergo a social and psychological transformation to create a different sense of self—identity as multiple—through experiencing the interweaving and exchange of human cultures (Nguyen & Benet-Martinez, 2010, p. 4). (2) A sense of belonging: Feeling connected or feeling that one belongs in a social milieu (Vallerand, 1997, p. 300); Feeling personally accepted, respected, included, and supported by others in a social environment. Failure to have a sense of belonging may lead to feelings of social isolation, alienation, and loneliness. (3) Simple making: The kind of making that is considered rudimentary and basic, such as ordering, sorting, assemblage, stacking, binding, and so forth. Simple making within this research allows for easy approachability for any person whether experienced or inexperienced in the creative practice of making.