Weaving Together a Decolonial Imaginary Through Design for Effective River Management: Pluriversal Ontological Design in Practice
Manuhuia Barcham
Abstract
Abstract Looking at how we, as designers, can move beyond charges of neo-colonialism in social design, this article uses the empirical example of a design project focused on the restoration of a riverine system in New Zealand to provide an outline of ways that pluriversal ontological design can occur in practice. Exploring how the use of design tools and frameworks (e.g., boundary objects and infrastructuring) can help build out a decolonial imaginary, the article demonstrates how— through our design practice— we are able to successfully acknowledge, and work with, different “ways of being” in the world.
Topics & Concepts
The ImaginaryWeavingColonialismSociologyWork (physics)Computer scienceEpistemologyEngineeringGeographyPsychologyMechanical engineeringPhilosophyPsychotherapistArchaeologyInnovative Human-Technology InteractionGeographies of human-animal interactionsParticipatory Visual Research Methods