Abstract
This paper presents a longitudinal study of a pluriversal design pedagogy developed through the Melbourne/Kulin Study Tour, an intercultural course co-delivered by RMIT University (Australia) and the Singapore Institute of Management. Reflecting on the past twelve years of the authors’ involvement, within a course running since 2006, this study examines how a plural approach to design education was iteratively built and adapted across the distinct cultural contexts of Singapore and Australia, challenging entrenched power dynamics in design education. Our study critiques traditional frameworks of expertise in the teaching models of both institutions, exploring how curricular shifts reflect growing awareness of broader social changes and Experience Design’s role in shaping socio-cultural narratives. Drawing on decolonisation, standpoint theory, and situatedness, we outline a pluriversal approach that prioritises place-based learning through public pedagogy, positioning designers as authors of mediated realities. Informed by pluriversal principles, we demonstrate how curriculum adjustments invite deeper engagement with diverse ways of knowing through a case study of an annually iterated brief (2017–2024). This brief invites Singapore-based students to create zines, documenting their insights during a two-week stay in eastern Kulin (Melbourne). Set within the academy, we highlight the risk of ‘pluralism’ being co-opted into universalist frameworks akin to institution-driven notions of CALD and inclusion. However, we also argue that pluriversal principles can improve job-readiness by enhancing critical thinking, cultural awareness, and meaningful design outcomes. This emphasises the enduring value of sustaining pluriversal design practices for navigating interconnected worlds.
Presenters
Rebecca NallyStudent, PhD Candidate, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Regine Abos
Program Coordinator, Bachelor of Design in Communication Design, Communication Design, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Victoria, Australia
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Pluriversal, Pedagogy, Design Education, Decolonisation, Experience Design
