Inclusive Articulations and Practices

MEDIA ARTS DESIGN EDUCATION+

Inclusive Articulations and Practices. Report by FACE Member Noorin Khamisani,

The chapter I have written, as part of this exciting new book Inclusive Articulations and Practices is entitled: A Reflective Case Study on Inclusive Fashion Design Work Generated Through A Multiple Lives Design Process.

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The case study reflects on the teaching of a multiple lives design process to fashion students at a new interdisciplinary design school in the United Arab Emirates. 

This began as a move to develop fashion design education for sustainability, but led myself and the students on an enlightening exploration of more inclusive approaches to both fashion practice and fashion pedagogy. Utilising a reflective case study methodology to explore student work and perceptions alongside the educator’s own reflections, the students expanded the design process and created garments designed for sharing between genders and ages as well as modular adaptable propositions. 

The insights gained from this process indicate the number of exclusionary conventions that are entrenched in the current fashion system, especially relating to gender, body size and culture. It also highlighted the level to which educators are often required to unlearn when approaching diverse cohorts and settings.  The case study leads to a set of best practice guidelines for inclusive future fashion educators and students.

It draws on my work with my amazing interdisciplinary students at @Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation and includes images of work by Alyazya Jaber (@jaz_m) Latifa Alkhoori (latifa_alkhoori) Maha Abdullah (@meem_Ezz) Dania ElAbdulkarim (@daniaelak) and also refers to work by the many other talented students I worked with.  

A big thank you to this group of students that were so open to exploring fashion design for multiple lives and taught me so much as an educator and researcher.