Every great creation begins as an idea. Design is the vehicle that brings these ideas to life, and as each creation releases into the world, it further inspires the creative process. Artists, musicians, filmmakers and writers have looked to other works for inspiration and encouragement as they perfected their craft. Architects and industrial engineers have observed the solutions of the past to help solve problems in the present. Inventors and scientists across industries have produced groundbreaking creations by looking to history for inspiration.

Cross-Cultural Inspirations: The Superheroes Project by Studio Glimpt, Sweden; Chopsticks by Office of Product Design, Hong Kong; Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Center in New Caledonia by Renzo Piano, Italy

Taking an idea from concept to completion is no simple task, which is why the design process often relies on inspiration from a variety of contexts. The study of nature, for example, has inspired designers to use biomimicry design, which applies nature's time-tested solutions to human problems. Other designers may look to ancient architecture, turn-of-the-century machinery or contemporary creations to influence their framework for developing tomorrow's solutions. Product designers are no different in their approach to the design process, and one of their greatest influences is culture.

Although the diverse cultures of the world offer nearly limitless ways to inspire product design, those tasked with creating these items must be aware of a potential pitfall. There is a line between harmless inspiration and cultural appropriation, an act that can leave many people feeling disrespected, offended and exploited. Although those looking to other cultures for inspiration may be sincere in their efforts, it's easy to unknowingly cross the line into cultural appropriation and cause emotional harm to the people who cherish their heritage.

HOW DOES CULTURE INFLUENCE DESIGN?

Think about the products in your everyday life that capture your attention. Consider the details that go into making these products desirable and attractive to you. Maybe it's a pattern or color scheme you're fascinated by or a style of fabric or clothing that you fell in love with at first sight. It could even be a sense of familiarity or an exciting feature that seems unique or adventurous. No matter the reason, there's a good chance that culture has influenced its design.

Although the study of culture influencing design is rather limited, we do know this much. First, a designer from any cultural background will knowingly and unknowingly influence the product and the design process. Second, when two designers from separate cultural backgrounds work together, the product and design will reflect each of their distinct cultural backgrounds and impact the success of the final design. When working with a team of designers from different cultures, the leader must understand these differences.

These two facts should not be surprising. Design is a field that continually evolves, influencing and being influenced by culture at nearly every stage. When anything is created — art, literature, products — the framework of their concept was built by a mind accustomed to a unique cultural perspective. The result, however, holds a specific meaning, use or interpretation that others in the designer's same culture share. If two designers from different backgrounds work on a single project, both cultural influences will be present.

Culture is a major influence in design, but we need to keep in mind that culture is a significant element in a person's identity. Although a designer may be creating something that is culturally or socially relevant to their own group, they may unknowingly be creating an object that misrepresents a different culture or offends a group of people. This depiction or assumption can cause the consumer to view other cultures through a negative or incorrect perspective — one that can, unfortunately, increase the prevalence of cultural appropriation.

WHAT IS CULTURAL APPROPRIATION?

Culture has evolved throughout human history. Some elements of culture are thousands of years old, while others have grown out of newer subcultures or micro-cultures that may only be centuries or even decades old. The world is filled with vibrant culture, and because information, communication and transportation are more accessible than ever before, many of us have limitless opportunities to learn about and interact with diverse cultures from every corner of the globe. Unfortunately, this sometimes leads to disrespectful actions known as cultural appropriation.

Rice Man packaging by Backbone Branding; Mural in Berkeley by Korean artist Royyal Dog

Cultural appropriation is defined as "the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect this culture." In the simplest terms, cultural appropriation occurs when an individual from Culture A — typically a dominant or powerful culture — claims things from Culture B disrespectfully or ignorantly. The "things" taken or used from a culture includes items like clothes, food and hairstyles, as well as other intangible elements of that culture.

The issue with cultural appropriation isn't necessarily that Culture A is adopting elements of Culture B. Culture itself constantly evolves, evidenced in the changes large cultures have experienced over time as well as the continual increase and formation of micro and subcultures. In fact, many cultures throughout history were influenced and inspired through exchanges and interactions with other cultures. The problem with cultural appropriation occurs when Culture A assimilates Culture B's elements without understanding their cultural importance and generally without attempting to accept or connect.

When an aspect of Culture B's identity is used without their consent, they may feel that they are being marginalized or oppressed by Culture A. Many groups that feel disrespected by cultural appropriation may have also been historically suppressed or hegemonized by other cultures. As the world gains exposure to different cultures through media, the internet and various products, there's a chance that those within Culture A may intentionally or unintentionally act in ways that Culture B considers offensive or disrespectful.

EXAMPLES OF CULTURAL APPROPRIATION

What does cultural appropriation look like? Not everyone knows the answer, especially if they are unfamiliar with the culture they might be appropriating. Some designers may innocently take cultural inspiration too far and mistakenly create a product that is offensive to a particular group. There are also ways in which someone can mimic, copy or represent a specific or general element of a culture that blatantly disrespects a group of people. Both instances can be found in a wide variety of examples.

Some of the most blatant forms of cultural appropriation occur when an individual adopts an accent, mannerism or other behavior that is stereotypical, degrading or simply ignorant. For example, some celebrities such as musicians have used aspects of African or Asian culture as part of their public and performance persona even though they are not members of that culture. They profit from this use, and many also believe that society accepts this behavior because the individual is of a dominant culture.

Along with behavior, mannerisms and hairstyles, other physical features can be insensitive and cross the line into cultural appropriation. Clothing and accessories such as jewelry may be a style that's acceptable for someone of another culture to wear. For example, wearing Native American jewelry made by Native American artists may not be considered cultural appropriation. However, when someone without Native American heritage wears clothing that mimics traditional Native American garb, like a headdress, they are appropriating a significant piece of the culture as a fashion statement.

Cultural insensitivity towards Native Americans

In the same context, dressing up to intentionally mimic someone of a different background can also be an act of cultural appropriation. Wearing an item of clothing or a traditional hairstyle that is considered a stereotype is insulting. Whether you're "honoring" a culture by dressing up for a holiday like Cinco de Mayo or donning a costume for Halloween that plays into a disrespectful generalization, you are engaging in an act that exploits that culture and those people.

Cultural appropriation is not beneficial to anyone, even those who may profit off of the use of these products or depictions. Ultimately, cultural appropriation demeans a group of people, promotes incorrect assumptions and widens the gap that prevents everyone from respecting, learning about and engaging in cross-cultural exchanges. This doesn't mean that someone from Culture A cannot share in elements of Culture B — it simply means that there is an important difference between appropriation and appreciation that must be acknowledged.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CULTURAL APPROPRIATION AND APPRECIATION?

Is there a difference between appreciation and appropriation at all? If so, how thin is the line that divides respect and disrespect? The topic of cultural appropriation is rarely one that doesn't include a grey area. Although we can all agree that offending someone's culture intentionally or accidentally is wrong, it may be more difficult to come to a consensus regarding which actions, items and aspects of culture should fall into an "appropriation" or "appreciation" category.

Whereas cultural appropriation essentially means adopting an aspect of culture that belittles, generalizes or ignores those within that group, cultural appreciation attempts not to offend, but rather, embrace. Cultural appreciation can be defined as "honoring and respecting another culture and its practices, as a way to gain knowledge and understanding." While some acts of cultural appropriation include wearing "trendy" items or supporting stereotypical behaviors, acts of cultural appreciation promote sincere engagement on a level which educates the individual and celebrates the culture.

Teen Vogue feature on cultural appreciation

One great example of cultural appreciation would be attending an event like a wedding or celebrating a religious holiday with those within a specific culture. Another example would be to visit a historical or culturally significant site with someone of that culture where you can learn about how the event or place impacted and influenced their culture. Positive interactions with different cultures only strengthen cultural appreciation. Even in contexts where bias may exist, these cross-cultural engagements can prove these assumptions wrong.

You can engage in cultural appreciation without immersing yourself in the culture itself. Education is one key to understanding different cultures. You can conduct self-led research to learn more about cultural topics, attend formal classes or presentations that shed light on elements of specific cultures or speak with those within a particular culture about their opinions and experiences when faced with cultural appropriation. Taking the time to learn and empathize with those outside of your own culture can positively enrich your worldview.

Learn the meanings behind cultural rituals and ceremonies

Finally, the best way to prevent yourself from engaging in acts of cultural appropriation is always to consider whether or not the product or event you're supporting can reasonably offend another culture. Before you interact with a product or event, question if these things marginalize, stereotype or generalize a particular group of people. The difference between cultural appropriation and appreciation is the difference between behaving politely as a guest and rudely disrupting an event that you do not have any permission to attend.

COULD DESIGN BE A SOLUTION?

Culture influences design and design influences culture. These two elements of our everyday lifestyles have a type of symbiotic relationship that can open up opportunities for both cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. Since they can evolve in parallel fashion, could changes in design lead to the decrease of cultural appropriation in products? If so, what is the best way to improve upon the design process to ensure that culturally-relevant solutions do not overstep the line from appreciation into appropriation?

Education may be the first piece of this puzzle. Although some consumers may look at a product as a commodity or form of entertainment, they may be genuinely unaware that cultural appropriation is taking place. By encouraging conversation, identifying acts of appropriation in product design and learning about the significance and struggles of these groups, more men and women in larger cultures will understand why these types of products and entertainment actively insult these less dominant cultures. The more we learn, the better we can act.

In collaboration with education, more diversity needs to be added to the design process. Although cultural perspectives will always influence design, having a depth of cultural diversity in the design process will add inspiration that doesn't cross the line from appreciation into appropriation. It can also help produce designs that are more widely relevant to those representing different cultures instead of being solely accessible by the dominant consumer culture in the region. More diverse voices from designers and consumers can lead to less cultural appropriation in product development.

Diversity of People: Illustration by Hope McConnell

Will biases change if we change design? Or will design only be modified once we have changed the way we view other cultures? Designers and consumers both have a responsibility to respect all cultures and support the people within them by refraining from engaging in appropriation. If we change the design process or change our cultural perspective, one will influence the other and dramatically change the way products showcase and support these groups. The line between inspiration and cultural appropriation can be upheld responsibly through sincere cultural appreciation.

CULTURE-DRIVEN DESIGN APPRECIATES

Culture surrounds us. It's an inherent part of everything we do and an essential part of who we are. No matter how large, small, historical or modern, every culture should be respected by those outside it with the same love and support of those within it. When it comes to product design, the process should embrace culture in a way that appreciates without appropriating. Inspiration is a driving force in design, but it's essential that the designer understands and respects the line between cultural appropriation and appreciation.

At Y Studios, we prioritize culture-driven design. All of our designs aim to be useful, meaningful and beautiful in ways which allow cultures, design disciplines and industries to blend together in a creative solution that simplifies your lifestyle. We believe that the world of design can embrace cultural inspiration without appropriating it. Through awareness, education and engagement, we can share in these diverse cultures and create solutions that celebrate these global groups for years to come. Connect with us today to learn more about our culture-driven design approach.