Rosie Yip

Rebellious Asian Kid(t): Humour as compassion and resistance in Asian Families

Abstract

Rebellious Asian Kid(t) is a practice-based research project exploring how humour can challenge hierarchy and foster safe spaces for dialogue within Asian families. Grounded in the cultural context of filial piety, saving face, and emotional restraint, the project investigates how communication design can mediate tension between authority and vulnerability. Through speculative artefacts such as the Survival Handbook in Asian Families and Decoding the Asian Mind card game, the research demonstrates how humour transforms authoritarian reactions into moments of empathy and reflection. Using an iterative, reflective design process, the study examines how humour can act as a compassionate strategy, disarming power structures while empowering connection. The outcomes show that design is not only a tool for communication but a medium for healing and relational safety. Ultimately, this project repositions communication design as a dialogue-driven practice that values emotional intelligence as much as creative innovation.

Artefacts

  • Select Bibliography

    1. Bedford O and Yeh KH (2019) 'The History and the Future of the Psychology of Filial Piety: Chinese Norms to Contextualized Personality Construct', Frontiers in Psychology, vol 10, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00100.

    2. Briciu B, Michel S and Chavez R (2024) Safe Space for Dialogue—A Practice for Connected Consciousness and Compassion, Research Gate, accessed 20 September 2025. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382156804_Safe_Space_for_Dialogue_A_Practice_for_Connected_Consciousness_and_Compassion

    3. Martin RA (2007) The Psychology of Humor: An Integrative Approach, Elsevier Academic Press, Burlington.

    Filed under

    Interpersonal Design

    Keywords

    Humour in Communication Design

    Asian Family Hierarchy

    Filial Piety

    Safe Space for Dialogue

    Speculative Design

    Contact

    online folio: https://rosieinthought.wixstudio.com/designlab , personal email: rosie.in.thought@gmail.com , Instagram: @rosie.in.thought , Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosieyip-design/ , phone: 0434303755