Awards

Introduction

In cooperation with the Dimen Dong Cultural Eco Museum, Marie Anna Lee and her students from University of the Pacific in California have worked in and with the community of Dimen in Guizhou province of China to preserve its cultural heritage, promote local identity and improve its living standards through various design methodologies. The project received 2013 and 2014 seed award honorable mentions. Standing for Social Economic Environmental Design, seed highlights best practices in the field of Public Interest Design.

Concept / What is the project about?

• Provide design services / Develop design vocabulary based on existing art forms
  

• Cultural preservation / Document traditions and craft processes
  

• Education / boosting of local identity: Craft workshops; training of designers;
  raising interest in local customs and traditions
  

• Raising living wages through crafts sales
  

Mission

• Use design as a positive force both culturally and economically in the lives
  of the Dimen people.
  

• Preserve their heritage, and boost their identity and self-worth.
  

• Stimulate interest in their traditions.
  

• Help them achieve better living conditions without having them leave the village.

Local Partners

• Dimen Dong Cultural Eco Museum and Cooperative
  

• Community of Dimen

Problem Identifications

• Villagers cannot make ends meet using traditional methods
  

• High unemployment / low wages
  

• Dimen’s culture endangered
  

• No written records