BFA+MFA 2021

Form Follows Culture

Nada Raafat Elkharashi

Form Follows Culture

MFA in Design

We all use everyday objects as part of our daily routines, but the way we use them varies from one culture to another. Using George Herbert Mead’s study of human conduct and Louis H. Sullivan’s credo, “Form follows function,” this thesis examines the cultural meanings and implications surrounding the fundamental act of drinking water. Using a methodology of iterative, exploratory making, a collection of glass vessels explores philosophical and physical manifestations of Islamic cultural principles derived from the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. With the goal of restoring cultural integrity to our daily activities, the work highlights specific cultural traditions and values, offering a critical examination of our interactions with everyday objects.