Since being piloted in 2010, Deakin University’s Intercultural Dialogue Through Design (iDiDe) has gone from strength to strength.
iDiDe is a collaborative master class design workshop and intensive in country experience involving Masters of Architecture students from Deakin and architecture and design students from Malaysia and Thailand.
The program seeks to deliver an enriched international study experience through an intercultural themed workshop agenda, with activities focused on collaborative design.
Deakin University’s School of Architecture and Built Environment recently delivered two iDiDe workshops in a row. The iDiDe workshops facilitated understanding and cooperation at several levels through experiential learning, interaction, cultural immersion and increased student learning engagement. Participants from each country engaged with respect and demonstrated true professional collegial camaraderie leading to new and deep appreciation of one another's viewpoints, work ethos, design philosophies and established new friendships. Issues of cultural identity, social practices and the great architectural gesture were raised and debated through friendly and energetic debate, conversation and serious discussions
From 12-24 January 2013, Deakin University hosted inbound iDiDE Australia with its Malaysian partner, the International Islamic University of Malaysia (UIA) at Deakin’s Waterfront campus. In the workshop, students collaborated on designs for a Museum of Islamic Art on two possible sites in Geelong. 48 participants, including students, academic staff, guest professionals and five architectural practices took part. Design outcomes were showcased as a public exhibition in the school gallery.
From 30 January 30 to 11 February 2013, iDiDe Thailand took place with Deakin’s newest partner, King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thonburi (KMUTT) in Bangkok. Partner teams from three countries (Australia, Malaysia and Thailand) collaborated in a trilateral workshop towards the design for an Art Gallery for a canal-side community of artists at Bangkok’s Khlong Bang Luang.
The Australian Ambassador to Thailand, Mr James Wise, hosted a welcome function for the representatives from all three countries involved in the program. Student work completed during the iDiDe Thailand program was displayed for public exhibition at the prestigious Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre (BACC) in the centre of Bangkok.
Next iDiDe: India will take place in November 2013 in New Delhi with Thai, Indian, and Malaysian partners all confirmed.
Note: Article prepared with input from Deakin University
Photo 1: Afternoon tea reception with Ambassador James Wise in Bangkok (iDiDe workshop all teams)
Photo2: iDiDe Promotional photo
Photo 3: iDiDe Research Activity Display