Social Connections
The Hidden World of Visual Narcoculture: The Branding of Mexican Cartels View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session David Gardener
The world of visual meaning has no boundaries; it transcends and influences at every conscious and unconscious level. As observers of this ever-present vanguard, we can be forgiven if impact is lost through familiarity. Modern-day brands exist in a multimodal world catering to a shifting audience's demands. However, this study embarks on a unique journey, exploring a new design aesthetic that challenges to resonate on a different level. This research and the broader visual analysis delve into the intricate world of the visual brands from Mexican drug cartels, specifically, the word-marks and emblems used to identify which specific cartel ‘family’ is associated with the contraband. Drug cartels employ specific formal structures not unlike conventional organisations and will have more than one identity that often flexes in response to political and popular cultural shifts. The cartel identities are added to the packages using hand-drawn marks, stickers, printed wrapping, and the physical embossing of the merchandise. In these rarely seen ‘ownership’ motifs, they establish their authority whilst giving a historical ‘seal of approval of the product—a statement of quality assurance. The research deconstructs the identities and explores factors such as its ‘sense of place’, metaphors, and semiotics, presenting how critically relevant these are. Parallels are drawn between the practice of the cartel identities and that of modern-day commercial brands. The signification and semiotics employed in the individual cartel designs are an untold story, unique in storytelling and rich in narrative, especially from the point of view of visual culture.
Design for Social Innovation Narratives: From “Smart Cities” to ” Art Cities
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Marcos Barbato, Antonio Gorgel Pinto
This paper proposes an evolution of the “Smart Cities” concept to the idea of “Art Cities” through the Design for Social Innovation (DSI) perspective. A contemporary DSI framework methodology emerges by combining the dynamics, innovation, and scalability of Augmented Reality (AR) technology with the truthfulness and organic nature of urban art (UA). By describing and discussing four case studies, this study declares the emergence of a new art expression platform led by the convergence of social innovation, art, and technology. “Maua” in Italy, “Priya Shakti” in India, “Lambe Residency” in Brazil, and “Google Street Art” in the United States all provide evidence for the phenomena proposed, each with its particular dynamic combination of characteristics. The study's conclusion endorses the evidence of an emerging urban form of art expression, supporting the idea of “Art Cities” as an evolution of the concept of “Smart Cities”, which is a movement towards a humanized social approach for identifying social phenomena and for research through Design.
Designing Livelihoods Through Tradition: An Ethnographic Study of Women Artisans in Rural Gujarat
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Pragya Sachdeva
In the intricate tapestry of traditional crafts in rural India, women artisans play a pivotal role, as torchbearers of cultural heritage and entrepreneurship (Desai, 2020). This case study explores the stories of women practicing traditional artistry in the vibrant region of Kutch, Gujarat, India. Amidst the cultural richness of Kutch, women artisans have seamlessly woven their craft into the fabric of their daily lives. From the confines of their homes, these women adeptly balance familial responsibilities, household chores, and the pursuit of their traditional crafts. The study highlights how these artisans have challenged norms and emerged as entrepreneurs. The case study explores and reveals insights into the women artisan’s journey and its impact on livelihood. Through focus group discussions, the study captures the collective experiences, challenges, and aspirations of women artisans of Sumrasar village, Kutch, providing a dynamic and interactive dimension to the research. Ethnographic research immerses the researchers in the cultural context, unveiling subtle influences on women's empowerment and the preservation of traditional crafts. NGO’s at Kutch stand as a testament, fostering an environment that nurtures women entrepreneurship and empowerment. Their unique approach lies in encouragement of women artisans to create designs reflective of their personal preferences, thereby empowering them and preserving the authenticity of the craft. This case study paints a vivid portrait of how cultural heritage and a transformative for change have been guarded and inherited, where women-led businesses thrive, traditions endure, and the essence of rural India remains deeply embedded in every stitch, weave, and pattern.
Contested Memorial/Memory Landscapes: Redesigning Public Space for Improved Inclusion View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Matthew Rofe
The human landscape is neither natural nor neutral. Rather, it is the outcome of human decision making thereby reflecting the operation of social, economic and political power. This is particularly true of memorial landscapes and the memories they embody and communicate. Enshrined in stone and steel, such landscapes and the individual artefacts that they contain are often taken to stand for collective memory. However, these memories are selectively curated telling specific narratives considered to be deserving of remembering while ignoring others deemed unworthy. Hence, memorial landscapes are simultaneously inclusionary and exclusionary. Drawing upon a case study of The City of Adelaide’s North Terrace Cultural Precinct, this paper teases out these processes. Specifically, the paper reveals how the memories of British Colonisation have and continue to overshadow those of a range of non-hegemonic groups, particularly First Nations People upon whose unceded and stolen land this cultural precinct stands. The paper contends that through more nuanced design and landscape management practices a more inclusive public realm can be created and in doing so curate a more holistic understanding of the past, its lessons in the present and how this may contribute to a more equitable future.
