Through Cultural Artifact: Story about my Immigrant Mom by Steve Wu | GIXD 502 Design Research and Strategy | ACCD 30 November, 2025
Introduction
In this exercise, we are practising storytelling by presenting an artifact, and tell our story about it. I thought of this corss stitch artwork by my mom, so I decided to tell a story about her.
Description The Artifact
Double Peacock Cross Stitch 28" x 43" Fabric, Yarn
A cross stitch art depicting two peacocks perching on a tree branch, surrounded by various kinds of flowers.
This piece consists of approximately 100k stitches, used over 200 different colored yarn, which took more than 3 years to craft by hand.
Double Peacock Cross Stitch
Cross Stitch
A form of embroidery. Using X-shaped stitches (Cross stitches) to form pattern.
It's like pixel art but each pixel is a stitch.
Cross Stitch example
Origin A long lasting artwork...
My mom purchased it when I was 8. It came as a cross stitch kit, contained needles, threads, a guidebook and a canvas. (You can find it on eBay I think)
Whenever I think back of that period. I picture a quite afternoon, my mom would sit in her sewing station with a big roll of canvas and a needle, and stitch until the sunset.
She became very busy when my family decided to come to the US. The canvas stayed half done for a few years.
I can't remember when she finished it, one day it was there, hanging on the wall in our new home in a different country.
Meaning My mother's masterpiece
We left many things in China when we were moving. But my mom kept this.
For a quite long time back in China, my mom has a lot of time for herself. She could chat with her friends, go shopping, or work on this piece whenever she wants.
But the whole immigration thing put a huge weight on my parents. My mom had to put down the needles and threads to deal with problems cross nations.
Now when we officially moved to the US, the language barrier still makes everything difficult for her. She can't chat with her friends because of the time difference, nothing interest her in the mall, the only thing she could do is work on this piece. When she finished it, everything is already different in her life.
She didn't cheer or brag about her work, even though it's quite amazing, just like she never talk about her contribution and sacrifice to our family.
UX Reflection Help mothers redeem their work
Mothers could easily overlook their contribution because it's for the kids. For us, the least we could do is to notice and appreciate them.
As a designer, I wish to create something to remind people to appreciate their mothers. For example, a forum for people to share their own artifact that represented their mother's work. Or an app that notifies user to chat with their mothers from time to time.
On the other hand, moms didn't need design for them to show love. We could also help them redeem their work by returning love.
Takeaway
You can always find moms' contribution in life. Whether it's an art piece, a big meal, or simple a word of care. When moms gives without asking for anything in return, let's help them redeem their work by showing love and care.