Design Reparations

Celebrate and preserve wisdoms and heritage from Kenya

In this session of Design Reparations, the focus is on preserving indigenous knowledge by working closely with Kenge Content Hive, a community-driven organisation from Lake Victoria's region in Kenya. The wisdom of the community elders, passed down through generations, is at risk of being lost as traditional ways of life fade. This knowledge, deeply rooted in a profound connection with nature, holds valuable lessons not only for the local youth but also for people worldwide who are grappling with environmental degradation. You will collaborate with Kenge Content Hive to create projects that celebrate and preserve this vital heritage. Potential outcomes include the design of online archives, the creation of books and documentaries, educational materials for local schools, and initiatives to revitalize cultural centers and village barazas. By working on these projects, you will contribute to the ongoing efforts to keep this knowledge alive, ensuring that it can continue to inspire and guide future generations, both within the community and beyond.

Belonging and collective support in Caribbean communities.

Ocan is an organization supporting people of Dutch Caribbean descent in the Netherlands, tackling issues like exclusion, racism, and poverty. Focused on intersectional inclusion, climate justice, inclusive energy transition, and labor rights, Ocan drives positive change within the Caribbean diaspora. In the Design Reparations workshop, we will collaborate with Ocan on their project to engage people of various Caribbean descent in a way that is not replicating the dominant narrative, that fosters belonging and mutual support, while elevating and celebrating their culture. Caribbean culture, rich with vibrant traditions, resilience, and a deep connection to the land, will be central to our work. Designers have a unique opportunity to engage with ancestral wisdom from Caribbean ways of life. Through this collaboration, you’ll reflect on and potentially transform your approach to design, thinking, and living, embracing a more connected, ecocentric perspective.