During July 22-23, part of the research group participated in part of series of virtual conferences organized by the Pluriversal Design Special Interest Group (SIG) of the Design Research Society (DRS): Pivot 2021: Dismantling/Reassembling, tools for alternative futures. The conferences focused on sustaining intercultural conversations about decoloniality and societal transformation. Aiming to identify tools and practices of dismantling and reassembling that could favor ways of reshaping human presence on Earth, as well as concrete cases of alternative future-making from all around the world.
VIDEO PRESENTATION
As part of the PANEL 12 – HERRAMIENTAS PARA CONVERSACIÓNES (Conversation tools, in Spanish). Nathaly Pinto – doctoral student at the school of Arts, Design and Architecture of Aalto University, together with Andrea Botero – post doctoral researcher at the school of Arts, Design and Architecture of Aalto University, presented PICTOGRAMAS, COMUNICACIÓN INTERCULTURAL Y DISEÑO PARTICIPATIVO (Pictograms, intercultural communication and participatory design, in Spanish) and contributed to the proceedings of the conference with a map that helps to visualize the process that the project is currently exploring. In the presentation and map, they reflected on the process and preliminary results of a participatory project that aims to support and collaboratively design a system of pictograms for intercultural communication processes with and for indigenous communities in Ecuador. The project builds on the long tradition of community-based communication as an important intercultural space of resistance for indigenous peoples of Ecuador. The researchers have joined efforts with young student representatives of different Amazonian nationalities motivated by the need to share information and make visible the situation they are going through, as students, during the COVID-19 pandemic which has had a differentiated impact on indigenous peoples. Drawing, to advance the work, from extensive contemporary indigenous visual practices and from experiences of participatory design from the Global South and Indigenous Research to create a series of graphic materials. The experiences allow the team to discuss how the transitions between image and words, practiced through the creation of the pictograms, can allow all of the involved to try out various forms of knowledge building and critical understanding of reality.
VISUAL CONTRIBUTION
Graphic materials and video presentation are the part of ongoing collective work with students representing indigenous nationalities of the Amazon.
STUDENTS REPRESENTATIVES OF AMAZON NATIONALITIES
Esperanza Piaguaje, Secoya Nationality; Sabina Guerreo, Siona Nationality; Shakira Yumbo, Cofán Nationality; Esteban Timias, Shiwiar Nationality; Jeaneth Mashian, Achuar Nationality; Royer Santi, Andwa Nationality; Nicxon Nihua, Waorani Nationality; Yankuam Wampash, Shuar Nationality; Fayer Aguinda, Kichwa Nationality.
PIVOT CONFERENCE AND PROCEEDINGS:
doi: 10.21606/pluriversal.2021.0034