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Otherness in Everyday Things: How Gender Lives in Objects

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When we say, “I am a man,” we are not just asserting identity—we are also, often unconsciously, implying what we are not . By identifying as a man, we place women in the category of “other,” and vice versa. But what does it mean to know that someone is a man, or a woman? How do we even decide? Are there specific things that men do, or things that women do? And who decides which actions belong to which gender?  These questions are not abstract—they exist in the spaces we live, study, and work in. On campus, in classrooms, or even in cafés, gendered expectations appear in subtle ways. For example, certain areas of the library or lab feel more “occupied” by one gender than the other. The type of bags people carry, the notebooks they use, even the way they decorate their desks or lockers—these objects silently communicate identity and belonging. A colourful planner with doodles may be perceived as feminine, while a rugged backpack might be read as masculine. These are material cues , s...
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How My Learning Tools Shaped My Pilot Study.

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  During my pilot study at the University, the theme “Things of Otherness” slowly shifted from an abstract idea into something I could feel, see, and sometimes struggle to interpret. The first and most grounding tool I used was observation —not just looking, but watching closely how spaces, people, and behaviours carried their own stories. Observation; looking vs watching I still remember my first morning on campus. I sat near the cafeteria, pretending to organize my notes, but really observing how students formed small circles, design students, engineering groups, architecture clusters, each with their own rhythm. At first, these groups felt like small islands. Their laughter, gestures, and even slang sounded foreign to me. That moment became my first lesson in otherness: belonging is something you see before you feel. The Unseen Rhythm of Campus But the most unexpected learning came from observing the cleaning staff members on campus. Every morning around 7.30, while most stude...
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What we talk When we talk about Information

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 WHAT WE TALK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INFORMATION Every day, we interact with information. But do we truly understand what information is?    What is information?   Is it the same as data?   Is information the same as knowledge? These are simple questions, but the answers reveal something deeper. In this world, we are surrounded by information — in daily life everything. But before we can understand how we use it or design with it, we need to ask: what exactly is information? What is Information? Information is more than just facts or messages. It is processed data— data that has meaning, context, and value. For example, if you see the number “28” — that’s data. But if you’re told “The temperature is 28°C today” — that’s information, because now the number has context. Information helps us understand, communicate, and make decisions. It turns raw inputs (like numbers, words, or images) into something useful. In other words: > Data is raw.   ...
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THE HUMAN DUST - A Film That Challenges Caste, Power, and Human Dignity

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 THE HUMAN DUST A Film That Challenges Caste, Power, and Human Dignity Sri Lankan cinema doesn’t often look back at its past with the honesty and bravery that Gaadi brings to the screen. Directed by Prasanna Vithanage, the film pulls us into the final days of the Kandyan Kingdom, a time when colonial power, caste barriers, and strict social rules shaped the lives of ordinary people. Gaadi is more than just a film; it acts like a mirror, reflecting a painful part of our history that many prefer to forget.  Two Lives Caught in the Same Trap The story is about how the life of a noblewoman changes after she is forced to marry a lower-caste man as punishment. She struggles to preserve her dignity and identity in a society determined to control and silence her. The woman refuses to accept her forced identity as part of a lower caste. Stripped of her title and status, she boldly resists becoming what society calls “human dust.” Her defiance becomes a silent protest. ...
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A Stranger Among Stars  I step out of my vessel. The ground is soft, warm... strange. My sensors detect thousands of lifeforms, but none of them match my database. Tall creatures with different skin colors walks on two limbs. Others crawl, jump, or fly. The variety- it overwhelms me. A small being with long hair and bright eyes points a glowing rectangle at me and screams. Why does it make that noise? I analyze... error.  No communication pattern detected. I wave my limb slowly. It screams louder. My chest hums- this is not the response I expected. A creature with a long, wrinkled nose approaches. It trumpets. Is this a threat? I hesitate, unsure if I should retreat or respond. My mind races: patterns, signals, responses… nothings fit. Suddenly, small creatures throw objects at me. Attacking? Offering? Ritualistic? I grab one. It smells... edible. I consume. Acceptable. I note this observation in my memory: "The motives of earthly beings are not rational, but some can pro...
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Sibling's gift

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Let’s imagine you have a sibling in oppersite gender. He/She gifted you something he/she really liked but its kind of announg to you.  That’s what our professor ask us to think about. I was thinking for second... So… I’m thinking. If my brother gave me a gift he liked, but annoyed me — maybe it’s a loud gaming speaker. He loves playing games with the sound blasting like a rock concert. But for me? It’s just noise. I like quiet, peaceful vibes. So, when I open the box and see that big, flashy speaker, I smile outside… but inside I’m like why this?? It’s about how different we are. This small moment shows how "otherness" works in our life. My sibling sees value, fun, or beauty in something that I don’t. And that’s okay. That difference is what makes people unique. Sometimes we forget to notice how design, emotions, or choices are shaped by who we are — our background, gender, culture, likes and dislikes.   The Beauty of Otherness People are not meant to be the same. Each of us...
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