Connecting Cultures
A collection of work about noticing differences, making room for other ways of seeing, and finding what can connect us.
Practice
Applying Cultura
Perspective
Seeing culture differently
At a glance
Theme
Helping design teams navigate cultural complexity.
Experience
10+ years
Ways I contribute
Research · Facilitation · Teaching
Impact
Academia · Industry · Europe · Asia
Knowledge
How can designers achive intercultural empathy?
PhD research
Helping design teams gain intercultural empathy through contextual user research
Framework for intercultural design research
Publications
Publishing design methods for an international design community
Featured in Delft Design Guide and Culture Sensitive Design
Tools & Methods
Translating intercultural theory into practical design methods for research and facilitation.
Free tools to download
Practice
How can research become something designers can actually use?
I have always believed that research should make a difference beyond academia. That belief inspired me to develop Cultura into an approach that helps design teams build intercultural empathy through contextual user research, dialogue and reflection. Today, the framework supports consultancy, education and professional workshops across different contexts.
Consulting Aross Cultures
Helping organisations make better design decisions through contextual user research across cultures
Applied across consumer products, luxury design and service innovation.
International Design Courses
Helping designers develop intercultural empathy through intensive, practice-based design education.
China · Japan · Iran
Culture Sensitivity
Helping multidisciplinary teams recognise cultural complexity throughout the design process.
Oceanco · Expanding into international markets
Perspective
How has this work changed the way I approach design?
Early in my career, I saw culture mainly through geography and national identity.
Today I see culture as something layered and personal. Family, education, profession, organisation, migration and life experiences all shape how people experience the world. Every individual carries multiple cultures, and these continue to evolve throughout life. This shift has influenced not only my research, but also how I facilitate workshops, conduct interviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
Rather than explaining culture, I create the conditions for people to express their own experiences. This perspective now shapes how I conduct research, facilitate workshops and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
Reflections & Field Notes
Observations from research, teaching and practice that continue to shape how I understand culture in design
Fieldwork · Travel · Everyday observations
Talks & Presentations
Sharing perspectives on intercultural design with designers, researchers and students through lectures, conferences and workshop
Conferences · Universities · Lecture
Field Notes
Culture can't be understood from a 'distance'. It emerges through conversation.
Intercultural design is not about becoming an expert on other cultures. It is about remaining curious when people's experiences are more complex than our expectations.
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