This study seeks to understand the factors affecting design process when portraying out-groups. Specifically it explores what role the surrounding visual culture, colonial heritage and personal experiences come to play when an European designer illustrates African characters. Furthermore the study seeks to explore the effect of consciousness of the designer’s personal racial biases in the design process and outcome.
The study uses auto-ethnographic method. A micro level approach is taken to deepen understanding on the role of social bias in the design process by going through personal experiences from the perspective of a graphic designer/design student. The study is an additional point of view to the ongoing conversation about de-colonising design, attempting to provoke further conversation on racial issues in graphic design.
Series of illustrations of African characters are produced. The design process is recorded in field notes accompanied by reflections of events in the past that have led to the designer’s present perceptions. The field notes are reconstructed as an auto-ethnographic narrative.
Key words: colonial legacy, racial bias, design process, out-group, graphic design, auto-ethnography
ILLUSTRATING THE OTHER 