Episode 7: Caryn Thandi Petersen on Disrupting Design
Does design need to be disrupted by decolonisation? This is an incredibly deep and complex issue that I was privileged to explore with Caryn Thandi Petersen, an incredible storyteller, creative, writer, artist and editorial lead for The Room and ALX.
In this deeply personal conversation, we explore the power design has to corrupt, divide and exclude. Yet equally the force it has to connect, inspire, and create impact. We delve into the topic of decolonisation and what it brings to the table in terms of disrupting design, and our notions of who or what a designer is.
We speak about the role that language, storytelling, and our histories play in design. Why design is a process that can never be complete, especially when it relates to unlocking innovation. And how important it is to acknowledge this on our personal journeys of seeking and often struggling to embrace all the multiple facets of who we see ourselves to be.
This conversation was such a gift, and I hope that you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed having it.
More about Caryn Thandi Petersen:
Caryn Thandi is the Senior Editor at African Leadership International, where she leads Editorial content for The Room and ALX. She is an incredible storyteller, creative, features writer, and performer with a background in the arts. In her spare time she is completing her PhD at the University of Warwick in Sociology (Women and Gender). Her research explores the meanings and implications of contemporary expressions of decolonial activism in South Africa and the UK. She is interested in intersectional movements seeking to address colonial legacies and redress the politics of knowledge production. As a member of the Peace and Reconciliation Network of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Caryn Thandi also seeks to contribute to broader discussions on institutional reform through transformative justice initiatives.
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Thank you to Kabbalistic Village for the music!
