A visual artist, scholar, cultural activist and designer, Mukhtara Yusuf’s work operates in the space of decolonizing design, sustainability, alternative economies and design in the global south. In our conversation, we discuss the seen and unseen aspects of design, including grief, trauma, as well as cultural biases and effacement. I left this conversation with all of my synapses lit up, immersed in bigger and broader questions than I had considered in some time, and I hope the effect will be the same for all of you out there as well. This is part one of a two part conversation.