Reimagining Heritage:
Bringing Iranian Decorative Traditions into Modern Minimalist Spaces
Project
UX Research and UX Design
Design MFA Thesis Exhibition
Independent Project
Exhibited at VAC, Austin, TX
2022-2023
Challenge
Iranian expatriates often struggle with a sense of disconnection from their cultural roots. Many feel that, in an increasingly globalized world defined by modern minimalism, the distinctive cultural markers of home are fading into a uniform aesthetic. This project addresses the challenge:
How might we empower Iranian expatriates to reconnect with their heritage through everyday objects?
Context
Note: Due to the research-oriented nature of this project, it is more text-heavy. I have attempted to make it as concise as possible and have limited the final design solutions to only three selected examples.
After moving to the USA for graduate studies, I experienced firsthand the disorientation of inhabiting a generic, minimalist space—one that lacked the cultural signals that once connected me to my Iranian roots. This personal disconnect fueled my research and design process, ultimately inspiring a series of culturally-infused products.
Research & Insights
Understanding the Problem: The Issue of Aesthetic Homogeneity
One of the most significant barriers to preserving cultural identity in modern living environments is the increasing aesthetic homogeneity of contemporary design. The dominance of minimalism and chromophobic modernist trends has resulted in a global uniformity of interior spaces, stripping them of regional and cultural distinctions.
User Research Approach
To better understand how cultural disconnection manifests for Iranian expatriates and explore potential design interventions, I employed a mix of qualitative research methods:
Contextual Interviews: Conducted conversations with fellow Iranian expatriates to explore their emotional and psychological experiences related to cultural loss.
Diary Studies: Asked participants to document moments of nostalgia and cultural longing, as well as the physical or digital objects that triggered these feelings.
Cultural Probes: Provided visual and tactile artifacts (e.g., fabric swatches, images of traditional patterns) to elicit responses about their connection to Iranian decorative traditions.
Key Insights
Emotional Disconnection: Participants expressed a deep longing for tangible connections to their cultural heritage, often exacerbated by their inability to bring traditional artifacts with them when immigrating.
Desire for Subtle Integration: Rather than overtly traditional designs, participants preferred culturally meaningful elements that harmonized with modern aesthetics.
Importance of Interaction & Storytelling: Many saw cultural objects not just as decorative items but as catalysts for storytelling and shared experiences, fostering conversations about heritage in multicultural environments.
Design Strategy & Development
Design Goals
Based on the research findings, I identified three core design objectives:
Tactile & Visual Connection: Create objects that provide a sensory and visual link to Iranian culture.
Seamless Integration: Develop designs that blend with contemporary, minimalist spaces while preserving cultural authenticity.
Affordability & Accessibility: Ensure that the products are affordable, avoiding the exclusivity of luxury Iranian-style goods.
Concept Exploration
Inspired by the richness of Iranian decorative traditions, particularly Balochi embroidery, I sought ways to reinterpret these patterns across different materials and everyday objects. I also explored light as a medium due to its deep cultural symbolism in Persian poetry, architecture, and rituals like Chaharshanbeh Suri, where fire represents renewal and vitality.
Prototyping & User Testing
Low-Fidelity Prototypes: Created sketches and 3D models to visualize how traditional Iranian patterns could be integrated into modern objects.
Material Exploration: Experimented with laser-cut wood, acrylic, textiles, and sequins to determine the most effective mediums for conveying cultural motifs.
User Feedback & Iteration: Conducted prototype testing with Iranian expatriates, refining designs based on usability and emotional resonance.
Final Design Solutions
✦ Perforated Lamp & Roller Blind
- Design Rationale: Uses laser-cut Balochi-inspired patterns to filter light, creating ambient reflections that evoke Iranian architectural and textile traditions.
- User Experience: Transforms generic living spaces into culturally rich environments without overwhelming modern aesthetics.
❖ Embroidered Belt & Bow Tie (with AR Integration)
- Design Rationale: Combines traditional Balochi embroidery motifs with wearable accessories for subtle cultural expression.
- Interactive Feature: An augmented reality (AR) filter allows users to digitally enhance the bowtie with customizable embroidered patterns, bridging physical and digital heritage representation.
ꕤ Sequined Dress & Purses
- Design Rationale: Designed to be both personal and performative, featuring hidden Balochi-inspired embroidery patterns that can be revealed or concealed by brushing the sequins inspired by Speculative Design.
- Social Impact: Acts as a conversation starter about cultural identity, allowing wearers to choose when and how they express their heritage.
▣ Derafsh Kaviani Acrylic Lamp
- Design Rationale: Inspired by Iran’s legendary battle flag, symbolizing resilience and identity.
- Cultural Relevance: Preserves a historically significant motif in a contemporary functional object.
❂ Windcatcher-Inspired Ceiling Lamp
- Design Rationale: Modeled after the traditional Persian badgir (windcatcher) structure from Yazd, integrating architectural heritage into an everyday lighting fixture.
- User Benefit: Provides a direct cultural reference that blends history with modern form.
◓ Stained-Glass-Inspired Clothing Rack
- Design Rationale: Adapts geometric patterns from traditional Persian stained-glass windows into a functional, contemporary furniture piece.
- Aesthetic Integration: Allows for subtle yet meaningful incorporation of heritage into a minimalist room.
✦ Perforated Lamp & Roller Blind
- Design Rationale: Uses laser-cut Balochi-inspired patterns to filter light, creating ambient reflections that evoke Iranian architectural and textile traditions.
- User Experience: Transforms generic living spaces into culturally rich environments without overwhelming modern aesthetics.
❖ Embroidered Belt & Bow Tie (with AR Integration)
- Design Rationale: Combines traditional Balochi embroidery motifs with wearable accessories for subtle cultural expression.
- Interactive Feature: An augmented reality (AR) filter allows users to digitally enhance the bowtie with customizable embroidered patterns, bridging physical and digital heritage representation.
ꕤ Sequined Dress & Purses
- Design Rationale: Designed to be both personal and performative, featuring hidden Balochi-inspired embroidery patterns that can be revealed or concealed by brushing the sequins inspired by Speculative Design.
- Social Impact: Acts as a conversation starter about cultural identity, allowing wearers to choose when and how they express their heritage.
▣ Derafsh Kaviani Acrylic Lamp
- Design Rationale: Inspired by Iran’s legendary battle flag, symbolizing resilience and identity.
- Cultural Relevance: Preserves a historically significant motif in a contemporary functional object.
❂ Windcatcher-Inspired Ceiling Lamp
- Design Rationale: Modeled after the traditional Persian badgir (windcatcher) structure from Yazd, integrating architectural heritage into an everyday lighting fixture.
- User Benefit: Provides a direct cultural reference that blends history with modern form.
◓ Stained-Glass-Inspired Clothing Rack
- Design Rationale: Adapts geometric patterns from traditional Persian stained-glass windows into a functional, contemporary furniture piece.
- Aesthetic Integration: Allows for subtle yet meaningful incorporation of heritage into a minimalist room.
Impact & Reflections
User Impact
On the opening night of my exhibition at UT Austin, five Iranian-Americans expressed interest in purchasing the perforated lamps, validating the demand for culturally meaningful yet contemporary home decor.
Participants in the user testing phase reported an increased sense of belonging and connection to their heritage through everyday interactions with these objects.
Reflections on the Design Process
Iterative Refinement is Key: The integration of user feedback at multiple stages allowed for the seamless blending of tradition and modernity.
Cultural Design is a Form of Storytelling: Every design decision became an opportunity to narrate and celebrate Iranian heritage in a globalized world.
Balancing Tradition & Innovation: By adapting traditional motifs to contemporary applications, the project demonstrated how design can both preserve and evolve cultural identity.
Future Directions
This project highlights the potential of UX design as a tool for cultural preservation. By taking a user-centered approach to integrating Iranian decorative traditions into modern everyday objects, I was able to address the emotional and aesthetic needs of Iranian expatriates. Moving forward, I hope to expand this work by exploring additional regional motifs, collaborating with artisans, and making these products more widely accessible.
This case study serves as a testament to the power of design in fostering cultural continuity, proving that even in a rapidly homogenizing world, heritage can find new forms of expression through thoughtful, research-driven innovation.