The main aim of my PhD research is to demonstrate the use of participatory design in reframing memorialisation through contemporary museology to aid in the transition of post-conflict cultural identity in Croatia, specifically in relation to the Homeland War (Domovinski rat), 1991–1995.

THESIS TITLE
Visual Narratives of Post-Conflict Identity: Shaping Cultural memory in Croatia through Participatory Design

ABSTRACT

The disintegration of Yugoslavia, fuelled by ethnic tensions and a constitutional crisis, led to Croatia’s declaration of independence and the 1991–1995 Homeland War, after which post-conflict reconstruction focused mainly on political and economic recovery while largely neglecting the development of a national strategy for cultural memory. Although much research has been done on the factors behind the transitional justice of post-conflict Croatia and its impact on society, exploration of cultural memory related to the Homeland War as cultural heritage, on a national level, has been limited. The potential impact of design for culture and heritage has been underestimated.

This investigation will reveal how a significant proportion of Croatia’s cultural memory is dealt with through various forms of community engagement, mainly centring around local civic organisations that emerged as a consequence of the Homeland War. These communities are staging memorials, not just as places and occasions to gather around grief, but as means of highlighting the self-expression of loss in a public setting. Centred around various modes of participatory design, these projects demonstrate a more inclusive approach that enables local communities to record, collect and communicate their cultural memory, rather than rely on state institutions. The main objective of this research has been to identify how cultural institutions in Croatia can play a more pivotal role in the shaping of national cultural memory post–conflict. By committing to establishing an on-going participatory platform for exchange between cultural policy makers at governmental level and civil society actors and practitioners, they are in a unique position to establish a dialogue between various stakeholders. The commitment of the Homeland War Museum Dubrovnik to engage with local community through the IN MEMORIAM/U SPOMEN project, that is central to the research, is a good example of this.

This investigation looks at how participatory design can aid in bridging and preservation of cultural memory through the development of a participatory design framework — Memory Culture Participatory Design Framework — which can be used as a central reference point to facilitate participatory projects between cultural institutions and community, thus creating a more empowering approach to post-memory. Data has been generated from qualitative research conducted through in-depth expert interviews and practice-led research through conducting participatory design workshops, as well as field and archival research and mapping of case studies related to cultural memory.

The findings from, and methodologies used in this work have relevance in a range of academic and non-academic settings where there is an opportunity to expand community involvement through interdisciplinary collaborations. These include community archives and museums, arts and cultural heritage organisations, public history initiatives, archival studies and memory institutions and arts-based research and creative practices. This research demonstrates that participatory design can be an effective supplement to defining post-conflict cultural memory, particularly for areas requiring personalised feedback. While this study focused narrowly on cultural memory related to the Croatian Homeland War (1991–95), the insights extend more broadly to cultural memory and the role participatory design can play across complex approaches to publicly navigating difficult heritage. This research highlights how participatory design can be a transformative approach for engaging with cultural memory, moving beyond documentation toward co-creation and activation of memory practices. The implications extend both within and beyond academic context. There is considerable scope to deepen the integration of participatory frameworks with memory work particularly through long-term, institution-led initiatives.

Keywords: cultural memory, participatory design, community engagement, cultural institutions, culture of care, post-conflict, memorialisation, Croatia