Service Design for Cultural Representation on Digital Platforms

Author:
Veronica Bautista Vergara
Supervisor:
Haig Armen, Amna Qureshi
University:
EKA

This thesis explores how service design can support Mexican music creators in improving their visibility on digital platforms, with a focus on YouTube. Algorithm-driven systems often marginalise non-English-speaking cultural narratives, leaving independent Mexican artists at a structural disadvantage. Through interviews with four Mexican musicians, content analysis of three YouTube channels, and a survey of 52 participants from 25 countries, the research examines both creator and audience perspectives. Using a Service Design approach, findings are translated into CALENDA, a curated YouTube platform featuring intimate acoustic sessions by independent Mexican artists. Designed to protect cultural identity while creating a viable financial pathway, CALENDA serves as a replicable model for other underrepresented cultural contexts globally.

Link to full thesis