Reimagining and Decolonizing the Language of Design

Main Article Content

Nidhi Singh Rathore

Abstract

This article examines how traditional design methodologies predominantly serve Western and colonial interests, urging designers to rethink their foundations through decolonial theories and methods. By grounding the research in the context of migration between Mexico and the United States, it dives into a case study, proposes textiles and cultural artifacts as design tools, and offers a methodology rooted in oral histories, traditions, and localized design approaches. Using untailored faldas (skirts) as a narrative canvas, it demonstrates an alternative approach to design research that emphasizes learning from collaborative storytelling. The methodology centers on three critical principles: a deep immersion in the research context; conceptualizing stories and experiences as research artifacts; and identifying inherent tensions between researchers and their methodological tools. This approach challenges extractive research methods, celebrating research participants’ lived experiences. By prioritizing narrative, cultural context, and participant agency, the research reframes design as a decolonial practice that values pluralistic ways of knowing and understanding.

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How to Cite
Singh Rathore, N. (2025). Reimagining and Decolonizing the Language of Design. Diseña, (26), Article.8. https://doi.org/10.7764/disena.26.Article.8
Section
Original Articles (part 2)
Author Biography

Nidhi Singh Rathore, The George Washington University

Assistant Professor in the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design at George Washington University. She holds a Master in Fine Arts from ArtCenter College of Design and a Graduate Diploma in Visual Communication from the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad. Her work explores the hidden complexities and economies of the virtual and physical world in order to redefine our relationship to political, cultural, and digital landscapes—grounded in the relationship between the Global North and South. She critiques design’s relationship with power hoarding, addressing systemic issues within the discipline. Her latest publications include ‘Dismantling Traditional Approaches: Community-Centered Design in Local Government’ (Policy Design and Practice, Vol. 5) and ‘The (Re) Search for Inclusive Healthcare: Designing Pedagogy and a Reflexive Practice’ (co-authored with M. Schlaug; Learn X Design 2023).

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