Design and Archeology Workshop

Introduction:

In this two-day workshop, we explored the interplay between material culture and the meaning embedded in artefacts. On day one, Dr. Askarpour led a discussion on decoding cultural and behavioural patterns through archaeological artefacts. He demonstrated how archaeologists use material culture to uncover insights about past societies by analysing their remnants. Design students applied this method by studying unfamiliar objects (e.g., laboratory equipment) and reverse-engineering potential meanings and behaviours. This exercise highlighted design's long-term impact on user behaviour and cultural evolution.

On the second day, students shifted focus to creating new products, specifically conceptual designs for airplane seats. They continually considered how future archaeologists might interpret these artefacts, emphasising design's role in shaping cultural narratives. 

The workshop concluded with team presentations and a discussion on material culture, drawing from Lambros Malafouris' book How Things Shape the Mind which is translated to Persian by Dr Askarpour.