This work raises questions central to politically responsible graphic design: Who is this work for? Who does it include or exclude? What social and political effects does it create?
Who it serves: Palestinian women preserving tatreez under occupation, and international audiences seeking an authentic cultural connection. The bilingual identity ensures Palestinian and non-Palestinian audiences receive equal dignity in how they encounter this work.
Who it excludes: Those who would appropriate Palestinian culture without attribution, or commodify tatreez without understanding its meaning or supporting its practitioners. The identity asserts ownership—this is Palestinian heritage, preserved by Palestinian hands.
What effects it creates: In a context where Palestinian culture faces systematic erasure, making tatreez visible through contemporary design language becomes an act of resistance. The identity educates global audiences about a tradition that has survived generations of displacement.
Against the backdrop of ongoing occupation, design that dignifies Palestinian cultural practices challenges the narrative that Palestine is only a site of conflict rather than a living culture with deep artistic traditions. Every workshop held, every kit sold, every pattern stitched becomes evidence of cultural continuity—refusing erasure through the simple, profound act of creating beauty.
The work functions at multiple scales, from individual learning experiences to potential future celebrations of Palestinian heritage in public spaces. It provides a system for Palestinian cultural visibility to exist and grow.