Adonis Diaries

Design History Society? Is Inserting “Historical” or “History” a typical British mania in naming associations?Who is Joanna Choukeir Hojeily?

The 34th Design History Society conference was held in Barcelona.  Why? The conference was to be in Leeds (UK) , but cuts in university funding transferred the location to Barcelona, supported by Fundacio Historia del Disseny.  Nearly 300 abstracts were sent and the “Scientific Committee”, made up of 34 academics, selected 120 papers for presentation.  What history has got to do with a Design Society?

One of the presenters at the Design Activism social change in the conference is Joanna Choukeir Hojeily (see note).

TEDxBeirut‘s photo.

Joanna obtained the implicit first recognition among the topics submitted at the conference: She had all expenses to the conference fees, activities, and gala ceremony wavered. The abstract (with minor editing) is:

“The World Summit for Social Development in 1995 identified social integrations as one of the three overriding objectives for social and economic development. The century has ended with the collapse of many States and the sharpening of many strife around the world (collapse of the Soviet Union, the Serbia civil wars…).  Social integration (process) was seen as a pathway to reinforcing common identities, supporting cooperation, and lessening the likelihood of violence.

More than 15 years later, methods for interventions in social integration projects remain at the level of policy-making, and civil society:  Intervention procedures lack the truly collaborative approach at grassroots to impact positive change.

The full potential of interdisciplinary remains unexplored, specifically in relation to “how communication design methods and interventions” can contribute to social integration.

Exploration method  (called Explorations) is an innovative cultural probes toolkit.  “Connection” is refers to a new perspective in networking method. “Expression Corner” is designed as a diary room for virtual interviews.  “Imagination Clinic” is intended as co-creation workshop.

These four multidisciplinary and collaborative research design methods were implemented in Lebanon between 2007 and 2011. These methods have actively engaged over 100 youth and stakeholders to date. The four methods aim to inform the development of communication design interventions for social integration among youth from different social groups and communities in Lebanon. Lebanon is a society heavily segregated along religious, political, geographic, linguistic, and cultural lines.

This paper is part of a PhD practice-led research at the University of the Arts London. The purpose is to develop a set communication-design guidelines for social integration, transferable across other socially segregated communities worldwide.” End of abstract.

I listened to Joanna’s speech at TEDxBeirut that was held this Saturday Sept. 24 in Lebanon.  She expounded on examples relevant to the four communication design methods.  It was striking to note that Charbel (18 year-old) from the district of Bshare has never visited south Lebanon, and barely stepped out of his restricted district.sahar (19 year-old) from Tyr didn’t go far.  Charbel and Sahar are curious to meet other youth of different religious, cultural, and geographical locations.  Many are plain apathetic in mixing with other people.

On October 1st, the first pilot workshop “Imagination Studio” will be held, inviting 25 of those who participated in the virtual interview so that they agree on a practical program that they will implement as a group.  This pilot workshop is sort of a co-creation process: Every member will combine “what he knows” in expertise.  Outside experts will participate to put in shape a feasible program for application.

You may access Joanna Choukeir at imaginationstudio@joannachoukeir.com

Mind you that tiny Lebanon is smaller than the State of New Jersey (10, 425 sq.km) and no formal census have been conducted since 1934.  Why? The political structure in Lebanon refuses to have exact ratio of the various religious sects in order to legislate for fair and equitable election law.

I accompanied Cedric twice to different region of Lebanon to conducting the interview.  Cedric set-up the tent and the subjects enter the tent and communicate verbally with Joanna via Skypes:  The two parties don’t see one and they don’t know one another.  The subject is handed two sets of cards to answer, sort of open-ended reflective interview. Joanna just listen and does not interrupt.

Most subjects lingered for over 1:30 hours, for an experiment designed to take no more than 45 minutes:  They were gladly surprised to answer questions that took them aback and required serious reflection on what they thought they knew or believed in.

Note: Joanna Choukeir is a communication designer with a decade of experience in design for social change. Her experience has embarked her on research and practiced applications in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and The United States. Joanna was born in Lebanon and spent three years in US middle schools in Washington DC and Chevy Chase (Maryland).  She completed a first class BA in Graphic Design at Notre Dame University in 2003, and a first class MA in graphic design at the London College of Communication in 2007.

In 2007, Joanna began her project Visual Politics, an online archive of sociopolitical graphics from Lebanon (111101.net/projects/visualpolitics).

Joanna is currently based in London and pursuing her PhD research at the University of the Arts London. The research is developing communication design methods for social integration, taking youth in Lebanon as a case study.

Joanna is also involved in lecturing, mentoring and researching at the University of the Arts London.  She is also the Design and Communication Director at Uscreates, a social change agency in London.

You may be in touch with Joanna on Email: hello@joannachoukeir.com or read her web: http://www.joannachoukeir.com

Note 2: This article might provide a good background to Joanna project  https://adonis49.wordpress.com/2011/06/17/social-group-dynamics-in-lebanon/