Van Amstel, Frederick M. C., Gonzatto, Rodrigo F., and Saito, Carmem. Coloniality of Making in Design Philosophy. In: Secomandi, Fernando and Verbeek, Peter-Paul (Eds.). Design Philosophy after the Technology Turn, 41–60. London,: Bloomsbury Visual Arts, 2026. http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9781350494480.ch-3
Abstract: Making is increasingly conceptualized as an integral part of design philosophy. The division of labor between thinking and making that turns into a fashion code (blue-collar versus white-collar workers) and geopolitical strategy (Global North versus Global South) is a fundamental problem that needs more consideration in this field. This chapter introduces the concept of coloniality of making to avail the role of technology and design in formalizing this division but also in overcoming it. Instead of characterizing coloniality as the pernicious presence of modern technology in everyday life, this chapter frames coloniality of making as a relational quality that can still be countered by modern technology, provided they are designed on top of alter/native universals. The philosophy of technology of Álvaro Vieira Pinto is offered here as a source of guidance to find such alter/native universals.
