Design Thesis Research || Research Question Draft #1

REVIEW OF PROBLEM AREA

General Topic Area: Colonialism

Refine General Topic Area: Cultural Genocide and Cultural Preservation

Topic Area Description: This topic area focuses on the eradication of indigenous cultures by colonizing forces and the repercussions of such damages in present day, post-colonial societies, in addition to the means by which communities preserve their lost culture if at all.

Topic Area Problem: The removal of traditional and indigenous artistic practices from modern day design in the Philippines.

Synthesizing the Topic Area and Problem: Due to a long history of colonization and violent cultural genocide in the Philippines, modern day Filipino design practices tend to reflect the methods of its western oppressors rather than taking influence from their indigenous and native cultures, contributing to the deterioration of cultural preservation within the country’s culture.

Possible Design Solution: I believe the creation of a clothing brand that makes use of traditional filipino artistic practices and culture could cultivate pride in the native filipIno culture while also bringing attention to and educating people on the country’s pre-colonized history and culture.

POTENTIAL RESEARCH QUESTIONS

  • How might brand design be used to revive indigenous culture and art in the Philippines?

  • How might indigenous art practices and culture be applied to modern brand design in the Philippines in order to counter the westernization of the Filipino design industry?

  • How might brand design be used to counter the westernization of the Filipino design industry and revive interest in indigenous art practices?

  • How might brand design be used to counter the colonial mentality of Filipinos and their preference for western culture?

  • How might the application of indigenous art practices to modern brand design be used to counter the erosion of the Philippine’s interest in Indigenous art and culture?

Noelle Axalan