Intercultural Design Workshop 2023

CONCEPT

The topic of the 2023 Intercultural Design Workshop was “Variety and Unity”, which refers to our cultural differences but also our similarities. Embracing cultural differences while recognizing similarities builds connections, respect, and appreciation. This unity transcends borders, promotes peace, and creates a more inclusive global community.

Our workshop - including 12 German and 12 Indonesian students - took place at Sebelas Maret University in Java, Indonesia where we could explore traditional art techniques such as BATIK and the ancient writing system, JAVANESE SCRIPT. Neither is included in the curriculum of Western or Indonesian media design schools. However, Javanese script specifically on the island of Java and on batik is known throughout Indonesia.

Preserving the Legacy:
Embracing Javanese Script Among Indonesian and German Students

Ancient Javanese script is derived from the Brahmic scripts. This Indian writing system appeared as a fully developed script in South Asia in the 3rd century BC and was imported during the Hindu-Buddhist period in Indonesia between the 8th and 15th centuries. Javanese script was actively used by the Javanese people for writing day-to-day and literary texts from at least the mid-15th century CE until the mid-20th century CE, before its function was gradually supplanted by the Latin alphabet.

The use of the Javanese script today is mainly limited to certain traditional ceremonies and in traditional Javanese arts, such as wayang kulit (shadow puppetry) performances. Although scholars and cultural organizations are working to preserve and promote writing as an essential part of Javanese cultural heritage, younger generations are mostly unable to write or read the script. Therefore, it was important for us to bring the Indonesian pupils closer to their unique cultural heritage. The German students also showed great interest and appreciation by integrating the Javanese script into their individual posters.

This workshop was about appreciating the cultural heritage of Java and integrating both Javanese script and batik art into a learning unit for Indonesian and German students.

Exploring Javanese Script and Batik:
A Playful Cultural Composition

We chose the ancient textile art of batik, which is still of great importance in Java, whether for fashion design or modern art. Batik is a traditional textile art originating from Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia. Its history dates back thousands of years, with evidence of its existence in Indonesia since the 6th century on Java. Using wax to create intricate patterns on fabric before dyeing, it was initially reserved for royalty but later became widely popular across Indonesian regions. Batik is now a UNESCO-recognized Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, preserving its significance in Indonesian cultural identity.

Posters as medium to enrich
Batik Art and Javanese Writing through Creative contextualization

Another focus was the use of the POSTER medium to creatively contextualize and powerfully showcase both batik art and Javanese script. The fact that the message comes after the choice of medium may seem like a strategy that puts the cart before the horse. Normally, the communication goal, the target group and the message come first in graphic design. However, if you follow Mac Luhan's lead, you can reverse the order as "The medium is the message."!

The strength of a poster is that it:

  • has a strong visual effect and excellent long-distance effect,
  • appeals to the target group you want to address, as it is location-based,
  • expresses an arty look and feel since it it has the charming touch of retro-medium
  • gets a message across without using a lot of words and, a poster is able to speak for itself!

One of the biggest advantages for me as a workshop creator is that the poster as medium is traightforward to finalize. No time-consuming, technically complex processing necessary as with animation, for example.

Bridging Cultures Through Common Themes:
Student-Selected Messages on “Friendship„ and “Food”

However, the message has been of course important and the content chosen by the students was about “friendship” or “food”, topics that brings us together in any cultural context. The students chose mostly quotes e.g. from pop culture such as “We are all connected in the great circle of life” from the Lion King Musical and “Kalian sangat berarti Istimewa di hati” quote from the song Ingatlah Hari Ini by Project Pop, an Indonesian music group that means “You guys are very special to my heart!” in a loose translation.

Without the valuable cooperation with my colleagues Irfan Ismail (UNS) and Frank Wettstädt, this workshop wouldn‘t have been possible. We relied on their special knowledge related to Batik, Javanes Script and more. Find our acknowledgement here: https://www.intercultural-design-workshop.com/2023/participants/

All learning goals and targets are very similar to all of my other workshop concepts.
Please refer to the home page to learn more about them:
https://intercultural-design-workshop.com/