Towards a Transcultural Design

The concept of transculturality suggests a new conceptualization of culture. It sets itself apart from the classical concept of monocultures as well as from the more recent conception of multiculturality.

The traditional description of cultures as islands or spheres is descriptively wrong, because internally cultures are today determined by a pluralization of identities and because externally they exhibit border-crossing contours. Furthermore, this traditional concept, backing homogeneity within cultures and clear delineation between them to the last, is normatively dangerous, because by its very structure it suppresses differences, engenders ethnic self-definitions and produces separatism or violent conflict. The more recent concept of multiculturalism tries to cure some of these ills, but its basic flaw stems from the continued presupposition of cultures' resembling homogeneous islands or enclosed spheres.

In opposition to these old and new misrepresentations of the form of contemporary cultures, the concept of transculturality seeks first to articulate this altered cultural constitution and second to elicit the requisite conceptional and normative consequences from it. Today's cultures are deeply entangled with and continually penetrate one another. Furthermore, transculturality is gaining ground not only on the macrocultural level, but in the same way on the individual microlevel: most of us are cultural hybrids. The concept of transculturality intends a culture whose pragmatic accomplishments exist not in delimitation, but in the ability to link and undergo transition. There is no threat of homogenization or uniformization. Diversity in the traditional mode of single cultures does indeed disappear, but a new type of diversity arises - no longer through a juxtaposition of clearly delineated cultures, but rather from within transcultural processes. The mechanics of differentiation no longer follow geographical or national stipulations, but - for the very first time - genuinely cultural developments.

Design's activities require an adequate understanding of their cultural context. The concept of transculturality seems to be the only one adequate for most present and future cultures. The tasks of design in the world to come are likely to be solvable only in the spirit of transculturality.