Intergenerational Graphic Design for the Transmission of Cultural Heritage: Co-creative Visual Experiences Between Children and Older Adults. A Pilot Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70577/dj3mja60Keywords:
graphic design; intergenerational design; cultural heritage; heritage education; co-creation; visual narratives; older adults; children.Abstract
The transmission of cultural heritage across generations faces challenges associated with the decline in opportunities for interaction and engagement between children and older adults. This pilot study analyzes the role of graphic design in intergenerational experiences aimed at knowledge exchange and the appreciation of local cultural heritage, using the case of the Diablada Pillareña (Ecuador) as a case study. A qualitative study was conducted within the framework of design-based research, through a co-creative experience that integrated playful objects, graphic resources, visual narratives, and collaborative activities between children and older adults in three households in the province of Tungurahua. The activities included making gelatin figures using molds of three characters from the festival (Diablo, Guaricha, and Capariche) and the recovery of stories linked to the older adults’ experiences and knowledge. Data were collected through observational notes on interactions, photographic documentation, and session duration, and were analyzed thematically; two interviews with tradition bearers guided the design of the characters. The results suggest that visual and playful resources facilitated communication among participants, promoted the exchange of knowledge, and fostered opportunities for joint participation centered on the festival; in one session, the mother also joined in. The case study suggests that graphic design can play a mediating role in processes of intergenerational transmission by facilitating the representation and interpretation of cultural content through accessible and participatory resources. The concept of “ephemeral material mediation” is proposed to describe a resource that is collaboratively created and consumed, shifting the value from the object itself to the shared narrative. The study provides insights for developing heritage education strategies that incorporate design as a resource for intergenerational interaction and learning, as well as for subsequent evaluation using a mixed-methods design and a larger sample.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Luis Miguel Viñán Carrasco, Marcela Elizabeth Cadena Figueroa, Andrés Sebastián Murillo Pinos, José Vinicio Palacios Carrillo (Autor/a)
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