Abstract
Cultural motifs serve as powerful storytelling tools, encapsulating the history, identity, and aesthetic traditions of civilizations. This research investigates how visual storytelling through cultural motifs can bridge heritage and contemporary design, fostering cultural preservation while engaging modern audiences. By analyzing the design journey of students who have developed motif-based projects, this study explores the transformation of traditional visual elements into tangible design solutions. The study employs a qualitative research approach, incorporating case study analysis, semiotic interpretation, and practice-based design research. It examines student projects that reinterpret heritage-based motifs—such as Emirati gold t, the Burqa (a traditional face mask), the Tanbur (traditional musical instrument), and traditional textile patterns—through product design and contemporary branding and promotional applications. The case study will be utilized to broaden the research scope, demonstrating further interdisciplinary applications of cultural motifs in technology-driven design. Findings from this research contribute to a deeper understanding of how cultural motifs can be adapted for contemporary relevance while maintaining their authenticity. The study highlights the role of design education in equipping future creatives with the skills to translate cultural heritage into innovative design solutions, ensuring sustainability and continued appreciation of traditional visual languages. This research has significant implications for visual communication, heritage conservation, and design pedagogy, offering a strategic framework for incorporating cultural storytelling into modern design disciplines. By integrating traditional motifs into contemporary contexts, designers can create work that is both culturally rooted and globally relevant, fostering new possibilities for cross-cultural exchange and sustainable design practices.
Presenters
Ousama LazkaniAssistant Professor, Applied Design, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Cultural Motifs Visual Storytelling Heritage Identity Design Practice Transformation
