Design as Cultural Resistance

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.
Every pattern stitched becomes evidence of cultural continuity, refusing erasure through the act of creating beauty.