In Experience Design, we typically learn to design experiences for others, the users. While drawing this distinction between us and them, we block the potential to change who we are by designing for ourselves. Radical alterity means including the Other as part of the Self. It is a concept crafted on decolonial Brazilian anthropophagic tradition, which can be summarized as incorporating foreign ideas through critical digestion. This panel presentation shares the attempt of overcoming "the us and them" relationship by forming collective design bodies that welcome difference and dissensus in participatory design processes.

1. Radical Alterity in
Experience Design
Frederick van Amstel
UTFPR - Brazil
fredvanamstel.com

2. DESIGNERS
(the Self)
USERS
(the Other)
Designer experience
User experience

3. DESIGNERS
(the Self)
USERS
(the Other)
Radical Alterity
in Experience
Design
Including the
Other as part of
the Self

4. Van Amstel, Frederick M.C and Gonzatto, Rodrigo Freese. (2020) The Anthropophagic Studio:
Towards a Critical Pedagogy for Interaction Design. Digital Creativity, 31(4), p. 259-283.
DECOLONIAL ANTHROPOPHAGIC TRADITION

5. GAMBIARRA AS
PROTOTYPING

6. DESIGNINGS AS
SENSITIVE
THINKING

7. DESIGN STUDENTS AS OPPRESSED

8. THEATER OF THE
TECHNO-OPPRESSED

9. THE RADICAL
INCLUSION OF THE
OTHER LEADS TO
DESIGNING
EXPERIENCES FOR
OURSELVES, NOT
FOR THE OTHERS.

10. Angelon, Rafaela and Van Amstel, Frederick M.C. (2021) Monster aesthetics as an expression of
decolonizing the design body. Art, Design & Communication in Higher Education, 20(1), pp. 83-102(20).
DESIGN BODIES THAT WELCOME
DIFFERENCE AND DISSENSUS

11. Thank you!
Frederick van Amstel
UTFPR - Brazil
fredvanamstel.com