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CROSS
CULTURAL ISSUES
Candice
Lopez
The Cross Cultural Issues breakout session included attendees from the United States, Mexico and England. Our panelists included Garland Kirkpatrick, Ellen McMahon, Susan Merritt and Karen White. These speakers represented CalArts, University of Arizona and San Diego State University.
Garland Kirkpatrick teaches a class called "Social Design" at CalArts. He focused on his work with the Watts Towers Art Center [WTAC]. He is a design advocate for both cultural and community based organizations including Strategic Actions for a Just Economy, which is contesting the gentrification of LA's Figueroa corridor, Self-Help Graphics, and Center for the Study of Political Graphics where he serves on the advisory board and as creative director. He told attendees about his work with Saturday Design Studio at WTAC through the Community Arts Partnership at CalArts. This inspiring presentation documented economically disadvantaged students from a variety of cultural backgrounds and experiences. In a series of workshops they have created powerful art and graphics from environmental design to fine art. Students were encouraged to express personal and cultural viewpoints and draw from their heritage. An example of this were distinctive logotype designs derived from street graffiti.
Ellen McMahon and Karen White of the University of Arizona discussed an innovative, collaborative project with the University of Hawaii in Manoa. Students gain a better understanding of how their particular cultural and personal experiences mold their perspectives, create their sense of identity and influence the way the make and interpret visual material. They select a location and an event, activity or phenomenon that relates to their sense of personal or group identity. It starts with descriptive words, photographs from their word lists, research and the writing of text about their topic. Some students researched their ethnic origins and racial identities, and explored the traditions and oral histories of their families and communities. In all cases students reflect on events in their pasts and connect their particular experience with the choices they make as creators and interpreters of visual materials. They design a set of postcards that are mailed to exchange partners in Arizona and Hawaii. Translating meaningful personal experiences into visual form is often difficult and they become more sensitive to problematic issues in design like stereotyping, and appropriation of ethnic imagery. Each student writes a formal interpretation t be sent to the designer of the cards they received. For the most part, the interpretations are thoughtful and carefully written with an awareness of the mutuality of the process between the exchange partners. Susan Merritt from San Diego State University is an author and teacher of graphic design. Her vast experiences with cross cultural issues are a result of her travel and connections to the Asian community through her partnership at Calvin Woo and Associates in San Diego. She also benefits from teaching on the border in San Diego where a hybrid culture has resulted from the blending of Southern California and Mexican icons and ideas. Here power point presentation was a visual delight as it featured products and graphics created in other cultures. What was particularly fascinating was the shock, humor and inappropriate use of text and images as they crossed cultural borders. An example of this was Bimbo Snack Cakes from Mexico and the negative implication of the word "Bimbo" in English. The slides traveled the globe from Japan, the United States and Latin America. Her presentation brought the viewer a greater understanding of the importance of translating our words and images in the shrinking global landscape. Discussion of these issues was meaningful as the audience included attendees from other cultures who were able to share their insights and experiences.
This breakout session was inspirational and entertaining. Discussion included the need to bring people of color into the AIGA and design field and to meet the needs of our changing global society. As the world shrinks through advances in communication and the internet is critical that design educators incorporate an awareness of cross cultural issues into curriculum. The question and answer session was lively and included opportunities for educators to implement some of the ideas and assignments into the classroom.