Between Worlds - A Wunderkammer of Diaspora and Belonging in Berlin

Abstract

In the context of the Middle Eastern diaspora in Berlin, this thesis investigates the ways in which visual storytelling can function as a means of cultural expression and preservation. It explores how design might be used to record the cultural and emotional intricacies of juggling multiple languages, identities, and locations. Set against the backdrop of Berlin, a city known for its complex past and varied populace, the study focuses on how Middle Eastern refugees find a sense of identity, find belonging, and come upon cultural remnants of “home” in unexpected places. The study incorporates primary research, such as survey responses, site observations, and interviews, with literature from diaspora studies, cultural identity theory, and visual communication. It aims to address the question of how design may act as a visual archive, preserving and conveying the emotional truths of diasporic life rather than just portraying them. By doing this, it adds to a larger discussion on the necessity of visual archives that represent marginalized groups, especially when it comes to migration and cultural fusion. The research foundation that guided a later design project—a multilingual visual publication—is also described in the thesis. In the end, the study makes the case that design has the ability to reflect and preserve layered, fluid, and fractured identities in a manner that may not be possible with more conventional archival techniques.