A platform for South Asian design educators to build a global design community of acceptance and belonging
Afghanistan
→
Bangladesh
→
Bhutan
→
India
→
Maldives
→
Nepal
→
Pakistan
→
Sri Lanka
→
Afghanistan → Bangladesh → Bhutan → India → Maldives → Nepal → Pakistan → Sri Lanka →
Mission
Create a global platform for design educators and scholars to promote and share design perspectives, design design perspectives, pedagogy, and histories rooted in South Asian experiences across the globe.
Address the Eurocentric canon by integrating South Asian narratives as a part of global design history.
Build community with South Asian educators and students by providing mentorship and growth.
Collectively dismantle model-minority myths and advance opportunities for minority communities in allyship with other design organizations.
Membership is open to all who support South Asian cultural heritage, identity, and narratives.
Goals
Organize and facilitate events that advocate for, amplify, and deepen understanding of the multiplicity of South Asian identities and perspectives within the realm of design. These events serve as platforms for discussion, education, and celebration of diverse design narratives.
Provide guidance and support to students, particularly regarding the admission process, portfolio development, and opportunities for collaboration. This support ensures that students receive valuable advice and resources to excel in their educational journey within the design field.
Create a community and safe space for educators from the South Asian diaspora to come together, share experiences, and support each other. This community fosters collaboration, networking, and knowledge exchange among educators invested in South Asian design perspectives.
Provide mentorship to South Asian design educators in various aspects, including suggestions for navigating visa processes, career promotion, and tenure. This mentorship aims to support educators in their professional growth and development.
Collaborate and extend support to design organizations that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism initiatives. This collaboration helps amplify efforts toward creating more inclusive and equitable spaces within the design community.
Core Values
Collaboration
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Dignity
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Education
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Equity
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Mentorship
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Plurality
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Respect
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Transcontinental Roots
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Collaboration • Dignity • Education • Equity • Mentorship • Plurality • Respect • Transcontinental Roots •
Designer’s Nook
As we create a unique space for our community, we invite our members to share stories that represent them. Highlighted below is Nipuni Siyambalapitiya’s cultural perspective.
“ Negombo, a coastal town in the Western region of Sri Lanka is where I grew up. It's such an interesting mixture of histories and stories told through the sea, beaches, architecture, artifacts, and people. I carry the simplicity and perhaps a little bit of the chaos of this place wherever I am. My views on design, coloniality, and how to connect to the natural world and diverse groups of people, have all been shaped by my life story here.”
Nipuni Siyambalapitiya
Photography credit: Samitha Eshan Siriwardena