Our group went through a relatively extensive research stage because we didn’t feel confident enough to move forward until we truly attempted to understand the history and culture. I enjoyed the process of reading through different papers and articles very much because I was invested in how the researchers guided their research with a strong intention of correcting people’s perception. The topic of mystification and how people’s pre-assumptions influence their research is very relevant to the act of mapping. As a reader, it felt insightful, but as a designer working with this context, I felt the responsibility of recognizing any biases that I was unaware of. More than the experimentation of a visual identity, I realized midway that I was more interested in the nuances of translating eastern ideas to a western audience. In order to fully inform a western audience, I believed that we need cohesion, depth, and a strong awareness of what voice we are amplifying.
