Migrations and Multiculturalism: A Design Approach for Cultural Institutions

This paper presents the first results of the research activities carried out by the Design Department of Politecnico di Milano within the general framework of the EU FP7th funded project MeLa - Museums in an Age of Migrations. The authors’ work is set in the intersection between cultural frictions and evolving heritage and enabling devices, studying the role that design and digital technologies can play in representing cultural diversity in museums and cultural institutions. The aim is to devise some design hypotheses intended to support museums and cultural institutions in consciously addressing the issues of cultural frictions and integration when designing heritage experiences, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by digital technologies. The paper describes the theoretical framework assumed as the basis for its inquiry and the methodology adopted, and outlines four models of presentation and comprehension of cultural diversity within cultural institutions through digital technologies. The description of each model is supported by illustrative case studies, which have been selected from those that stimulated its definition. The final discussion evaluates the models’ suitability for inviting visitors to deal with cultural diversity and the ways they can achieve this aim.