COLOURS, SCRIBBLES AND STICKERS

How can colours, abstract shapes, and chaotic scribbles help uncover hidden narratives of discrimination in the workplace? This project explored the potential of visual research tools to engage young apprentices in South Tyrol in discussions about their experiences with bias and exclusion.

Traditional social science methods often fall short in capturing the nuances of discrimination, particularly among young people who may be unwilling or unable to articulate their experiences in words (because of power imbalances, language bariers or other unspoken tensions). To address this, we turned to generative design approaches, incorporating visual research tools inspired by the psychology of colors and the semiotics of shapes in interactive workshops with groups of youngsters.

By shifting the research process away from purely verbal methods and embracing a more generative, multimodal approach, the project not only gathered critical insights into workplace discrimination but also empowered participants to recognize their own agency. The results highlight the value of visual tools in surfacing often-overlooked experiences and fostering dialogue in complex social contexts.

This project was conducted with Johanna Mitterhofer and is part of the broader research commissioned by the South Tyrolean branch of the CGIL-AGB trade union.

︎︎︎ visual essay “Colours, Scribbles, and Stickers: How can Visual Tools Help Research Controversial Topics Such as Discrimination in the Workplace?” (Obukhova & Mitterhofer, 2025) (link)
︎︎︎ open access report “Apprenticeship, discrimination and everyday racism in South Tyrol” (Mitterhofer & Obukhova, 2024) (link ita, link deu)
︎︎︎ article “In all these shades of grey”: Of hidden discriminations and everyday racism (Mitterhofer & Obukhova, 2024) (link)
︎︎︎ open access deck of designed cards (link)