VIRTUAL Barcelona
Abstract
Drawing inspiration from Alan Dundes’s (1969) notion of folklore as “an autobiographical ethnography,” the study explores the potential of folklore in enriching design research. Folklore is a treasury of narratives and traditions and embodies the very essence of a culture. Folklore acts as a site of resistance for the subordinated classes as counter-hegemonic elements could emerge within the folklore, challenging dominant ideologies and creating a sense of solidarity among the oppressed (Gibson 2015). We explore how folklore is disseminated, remembered, interpreted, and reinvented within our local communities, and how it is shared through a particular voice—whether in oral storytelling or through its reflections in visual culture. We also consider the significance of this folklore to future communities and how new technologies might influence its retelling or meaning. By employing Mattelmäki’s, Vaajakallio’s, and Koskinen’s (2014) Empathetic Design framework, our research investigates how folklore can unite community members and contribute to contemporary social justice and speculative design. Through a series of focus groups and workshops, we visually explore the intersection of community, research, social justice storytelling, and technology in the context of folklore. The research leverages digital storytelling platforms and augmented reality technologies to craft immersive experiences that empower communities in preserving and revitalizing their traditions, while also underscoring folklore’s significance in design research and practice. The goal of this study is to develop innovative participatory design research methodologies and practices that provide agency to culturally diverse communities, empowering them to become co-designers.
Sana Khan Hussaini is an Assistant Professor of Visual Communication Design at San Francisco State University. She received her MFA in Visual Design with a concentration in Gender Studies from the University of Notre Dame where she was the recipient of The Liu Institute’s Research Grant and Snite Museum’s Award for Excellence in Visual Arts. Her research endeavor stems from her commitment to amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities through design and she continues to pursue design for social good through her classroom and ongoing design projects.
Ellen Christensen is an Assistant Professor of Visual Communication Design in the School of Design at San Francisco State University. She completed an M.F.A. in Graphic Design at the Rhode Island School of Design, where was the recipient of a RISD Research Grant, a Graduate Division Fellowship, and a RISD Fellowship. Her graduate thesis at RISD, Placefulness, researched design strategies of care and community placemaking. Her work investigates collaborative methods of physical and virtual community building.