Decolonising Design Education Schools of Departure No. 1

Decolonising Design Education examines the history, present, and future of radical reforms in art and design education aimed at challenging colonial modes of knowing and making. This compelling volume, part of the Schools of Departure series, stems from a collaboration between Regina Bittner, Katja Klaus, and Philipp Sack of the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation, and JJ Adibrata and farid rakun of Gudskul.

The publication weaves together historical case studies, dialogues, and reports from ten art and design collectives rooted in formerly colonized regions. These collectives—including Gudskul (Jakarta), Another Road-map Africa Cluster (Maseru), Salikhain Kolektib (Philippines), and Pangrok Sulap (Malaysia)—present diverse educational practices that reimagine traditional pedagogies and explore experimental approaches.

Anchored by the concept of “traveling ideas,” the book highlights the dynamic exchange of methods and narratives across geographies, cultures, and histories. It also introduces a digital atlas that maps innovative art and design education strategies beyond the Bauhaus legacy. Together, these resources offer a profound exploration of appropriation, adaptation, and the fluidity of educational concepts as they traverse different contexts.

Contributors include educators, designers, and researchers such as Nina Paim, Ola Uduku, Pedro J. S. Vieira de Oliveira, and Suchitra Balasubrahmanyan, each bringing unique insights into how art and design education can foster inclusivity and resist hegemonic narratives.

A thought-provoking read for educators, historians, and design practitioners, Decolonising Design Education is essential for anyone invested in rethinking how art and design can empower diverse forms of knowledge-making and cultural exchange.