The recent Chinese New Year was the largest festival in the East, celebrated by nearly 2 billion people. Similarly, residents of the Middle East will celebrate Ramadan, the biggest Muslim festival, in the next two months. In this rapidly changing era, cultural identity causes confusion for many. Some worry that maintaining their ethnic festival traditions may hinder integration into the local culture, while others believe abandoning these traditions could lead to a loss of self. Finding a balance between preserving traditions and adapting to the current cultural backdrop is a crucial choice for many, especially designers.
Stephy Fung, a digital fashion artist from the UK, was invited to give a talk on identity and cultural identification as well as innovative design. Her digital fashion works, characterized by vibrant colors and balanced compositions, pay tribute to Chinese tradition. Reinterpreted traditional Chinese garments and patterns demonstrate respect for culture while aligning with modern aesthetics. Her designs aim to educate audiences about Chinese culture, attracting a wide international audience. Fung explores her British Chinese identity, showcasing the possibilities of cultural fusion and encouraging cross-cultural expression. By combining modern technologies like 3D modeling with traditional elements, she demonstrates the contemporary applicability of culture, promoting a modern understanding and appreciation of Chinese traditions, becoming a model for expressing cultural identity through design.
In a globalized society, integrating cultural identity into design becomes particularly important, enriching the design's depth and fostering understanding of cultural diversity. Designers, by incorporating their cultural stories into their works, open a new window for audiences to explore different cultures. Such designs deepen respect for multicultural backgrounds and trigger emotional resonance, strengthening cross-cultural communication. For instance, African designers create modern yet distinctly African fashion using traditional fabrics and patterns; Japanese designers blend traditional aesthetics with modern design principles, showing the harmonious coexistence of culture and innovation. This blend of culture and design highlights the beauty of different cultures while encouraging understanding and respect among global audiences.
When integrating cultural identity into design, designers may face the challenge of cultural inferiority, often stemming from doubts about their own cultural value or the idealization of external cultures. This feeling can affect personal confidence and creativity, and may lead to societal misunderstandings and undervaluation of specific cultural values. To overcome this challenge, designers and creators can adopt various strategies, such as delving into the uniqueness and beauty of their own culture, enhancing knowledge of local and other cultures through education, and actively participating in communities for support and encouragement. Positive cultural exchange and presentation are key, helping designers realize the unique value of various cultures, thereby avoiding cultural inferiority while respecting and celebrating their own culture, further promoting understanding and respect among diverse cultures.
In this era of globalization, finding a balance between preserving cultural traditions and adapting to modern backdrops is crucial. Stephy Fung's work shows how to integrate cultural identity into design, respecting traditions while embracing diversity and building bridges for cross-cultural understanding. Facing cultural inferiority, education, community support, and positive communication are essential strategies. Fung's practice proves that design can not only foster cultural resonance and respect but also help us preserve our cultural identity while building a more inclusive global society.
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