Whenever we think of designing an object, building, or open space, cultural context always seem to be left out with no or little consideration. How we can endorse a design process with a strong cultural awareness of ethnic diversities within one or several communities is with no doubt to me one of the most important questions designers need to elaborate on in this era. As globalization spread all over the world in the past 15 years, we started to notice its advantages and disadvantages. As the easiness of communications is one of the positive contributions of globalization, the fact that several cultures and languages are disappearing all over the world can be also attributed to globalization. One example of products where I found myself disadvantaged with is computer keyboards. Keyboards are means of communication but at the same time they are not sensitive towards languages. I bought a new PC four months ago and although I had the option to customize my own I could not have my keyboard accommodating two languages (English and my Native language). Back in my country such keyboards are available in market, but since I got my PC from the US I could not find what I was looking for. And now my only solution is to buy keyboard stickers.
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Compared to the beginning of the internet era, most foreign languages are now available for reading and typing. Ten years ago, I was not even able to read or write in my first language on the internet explorer. It’s just a matter of time and effort.
male/asian/28/5’7″/150
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I agree. We ought to be sensitive to cultural differences. But my question is, how do we research those differences without making them more obvious points of dissention? I think it’s difficult to identify differences without causing hurt, such as in the case of national languages. In the USA, we don’t actually have a national language, which makes life more difficult when in different parts of the country, such as the southern portions. When people speak Spanish there, it can offend some but not speaking Spanish can offend others. How can we be sensitive to both?
5’10″, 180lbs, 24, White, Male
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I agree that when someone comes here from another country that most things are designed for english speakers only. America prides itself on being diverse yet so many designs never consider other cultural habits.
female, white, 25 5’4”, 120
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