Ola Sawaie
Māori-besque: a study in cross-cultural design and hyphenated identities in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
This design-led research investigates how the concept of Māori-besque reflects the researcher’s hyphenated identity (Arab-Kiwi) and contributes to a new way of thinking about cross-cultural design in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Māori-besque is inspired by the confluence of Māori, Islamic and Arabic artistic expressions, particularly their patterns and motifs. Rooted in a diasporic perspective, this research examines how artistic and cultural hybridity manifests in design. An in-depth exploration of these art forms and their spiritual connotations informed three self-reflexive design experiments: The Matariki Lamp, the Manawa Design, and the Intertwined exhibition.
The research employs a combination of practice-led, cross-cultural and autoethnographic methodologies. To further examine the research questions, semi-structured interviews with Māori and Muslim designers and artists and a survey were conducted. The central inquiry asks: How does a hyphenated identity within the diaspora shape cross-cultural design in Aotearoa, New Zealand? What is the in-between space between Māori and both Islamic and Arabic artistic expressions?
This research is theoretically grounded in postcolonial thought, particularly Homi Bhabha’s concepts of third space, in-betweenness, and hybridity. On the practical side, it draws on Donald Schön’s theory of reflective practice to bridge the gap between theory and practice in the field of design.
Key findings present themes and guidelines for cross-cultural design, focusing on Māori-Islamic and Māori-Arabic co-design. These insights emphasise manaakitanga (respect), cultural appropriation, collaboration, and the ongoing tensions of colonialism and re-indigenisation.
This research contributes to the broader discourse on cross-cultural design by offering new perspectives on hybridity, cultural identity, and ethical co-design practices in a multicultural and diasporic society. By bridging Indigenous and diasporic artistic traditions, this research provides a framework for designers and artists navigating cultural intersections in Aotearoa, New Zealand and beyond.
Supervisors
Awards and Achievements
Top student Award - Te Pōkaitahi Reo Māori, level 2 from Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) in Hawke’s Bay