Part 1: Chat Archive
Tadson Bussey:
Welcome everyone!
Christi Lopez:
Greetings from Lansing, MI!
Kim Hess:
Hello from Central Pennsylvania!
Simon Sung:
PLU is here!
Meaghan Dee:
Thank you all for putting this event together. Hello from Blacksburg, Virginia
Kali Daniel:
Hello from University of North Alabama in Florence, AL!
Anne:
Hello from Springfield College, in Springfield, Mass.!
jinderhe:
hello from Kent State in Kent, Ohio
Jennifer Bartoli:
Hello from The Brearley School
Lola Gallagher:
Hello from Central Washington University
Megan Kitagawa:
Hi from the University of Washington Tacoma!
Donna Spencer:
Hello from the University of Tennessee
Christine Prado:
Thanks for talking to us!
Joceline Seres:
Hello from California State University San Bernardino! Very excited to be here.
wyvette williams:
Greetings from Kentucky State University in Frankfort, KY!
eshapiro:
Thank you! Hello from Champaign Public Library in Illinois.
Richard Mehl:
Hello from School of Visual Arts!
Olympia Crawford:
Greetings from Cal State LA! Very excited to be here!
anne hand:
Greetings from Philadelphia. Associate Professor Fashion Design.
garyrozanc:
Congrats on tenure!
Joyce Thomas:
Hello from Auburn University
David Laferriere:
Hello from Wheaton College, Massachusetts
Elizabeth Lichtenberg:
Hello from Furman University in Greenville, SC
Meaghan Dee:
If anyone has design projects they’d be willing to share, the Design Teaching Resource is always looking for more contributions — and I know the founder (Annabelle Goulde) has been really hoping to get more inclusive Design History projects. https://teachingresource.aiga.org/
lucer:
Hello all from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Tadson Bussey:
@meaghan dee : thanks for the info
kelemen:
Hello from the University of Akron and Kent State University in Ohio
cherierichardson:
Hello from Bermuda College
garyrozanc:
I’d love to hear more about getting Black students introduced to design in K-12.
Meaghan Dee:
Me too. Is there more that educators in Higher Ed could do to connect with K-12 students or educators?
Christine Prado:
I know Jacinda Walker is working on introducing design at an earlier age.
Silas Munro:
Jacinda’s work is really crucial
Marq Mervin:
Yes! DesignExplorr (Jacinda's work) is phenomenal!
Meaghan Dee:
Jacinda is great. https://designexplorr.com/
Amy Schuldt:
Missouri State University has a great design program…and VERY affordable!
Brockett Horne:
MICA loves you Pierre
Brockett Horne:
(Brockett from MICA)
jinderhe:
Robin Vande Zande (KSU Art Ed) just published a book: Design Education: Creating Thinkers to Improve the World.
Brockett Horne:
It’s so true that education HAS to get cheaper.
Susan Ramey:
Hello from Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, MA.
Leslie:
Unfortunately even public universities are not as “public” as they used to be. Their tuition continues to climb beyond rates that are affordable for many.
Greg Phillips:
I have found that you get what you pay for in art education, although determination is just as important.
Christine Prado:
I am so sad that education seems to get further out of reach for so many.
michaellewis:
I’m at a small College in Texas. Our college system has about 5 campuses across the state and we are the only one that has a graphic design program. I’m presently the only black teaching in that program. How can I attract more black students? Any suggestions?
Christine Prado:
Do you think that there is a perception that if you are going to invest in an education, you better study something that will guarantee to pay well?
Tasheka Arceneaux-Sutton:
@Christine yes, most definitely!!
michaellewis:
We are a very inexspensive program, but we’re not in. A major metro city. However, we are only 85 miles from Dallas/Ft. Worth.
Krista Mayfield:
How do we attract more black students to our design programs while also not building a false expectation of their being more black students in the program than there actually is through photography?
michaellewis:
What are some strategies that anyone would suggest to help recruit black students?
Sheldon Andrus:
@Krista such a noteworthy question… university marketing offices struggle with this same idea… I know I do…
Meaghan Dee:
What are some things faculty can do to best support our students and help them thrive?
Brian Yohn:
re: mentorship - do you see it part of your mission to put yourself out there for younger Black designers or potential design students?
Greg Phillips:
Mentoring students from high school or earlier helps exposing students to the possibilities of a career in design.
Deepa Shanbhag:
I learned about graphic design in HS via my white female teachers. I then did further research into schools they suggested and then some via college directories in the local library (I was in hs from 2005-2009). All this to say, it starts in HS, I think. Somehow working with teachers there to get them to introduce you to their students
Tasheka Arceneaux-Sutton:
@Brian Yohn most definitely!
Pouya:
We also need affordable MFA Programs - to produce qualified Design faculty.
Christine Prado:
Build relationships, how innovative!
Pouya:
OK State has and affordable new Fully Funded MFA Program ( Interaction / communication / motion ) + regional and international award winning BFA rogram https://vimeo.com/okstatemotiondesign, #okstate_gd
Amy Schuldt:
Missouri State University has a fairly new MFA in Visual Studies Program, as well. https://art.missouristate.edu/visualstudies/
Marq Mervin:
Pouya, yes! MFA Programs are extremely expensive
Katie Bevan:
How do we avoid tokenism when we want to increase diversity?
Meaghan Dee:
Service too frequently falls on POC and women, and then it is less valued during promotion and tenure
michaellewis:
I share the same experience. I teach at, graduated from , hired students from, served on advisory board for the same institution that I’m at now. But, they have never asked me how we can get more black students.
Angela Bains:
OCAD University hires five Black faculty members to and address the Faculty of Design’s 144 years of Black underrepresentation. I’m am one of them!
kinsleym:
Good point! Reruitment
Silas Munro:
Angela Congrats! Yeah, there is a lot to make up for…
Gina Gray:
Is it inauthentic to show more diversity than you have?
aliatu burke:
Amazing congrats, Angela!!
Tasheka Arceneaux-Sutton:
@Angela Congratulations!!
Silas Munro:
@Gina, word! That is so common in recruitment materials.
Tadson Bussey:
@angela Congrats!
Angela Bains:
OCAD University, Toronto. Read about the cluster hire here: https://www.ocadu.ca/news/ocad-u-hires-five-new-permanent-faculty-recognition-international-decade-peoples-african
Christine Prado:
It IS common and its frustrating for the designer being forced to do it as well. I wish we had a better answer.
Amy Schuldt:
ur institution just got called out by a black student for over-representing diversity in our publications. We will be re-evaluating our process…. We have always strived to show accurate representation… but now we need to re-think.
Angela Jackson:
It's incredibly harmful to give prospective students the illusion of comfort and a sense of community.
Christine Prado:
AMEN!
Leslie:
Is anyone doing mentorship/volunteer programs with K-12 schools that have a high population of under-represented students) by graphic design students in your program? My students are interested in that, but creating something that is authentic and sustainable is obviously important.
Meaghan Dee (she/hers) – VT:
Would love to hear ideas for doing that in the time of COVID too (virtual connections). Could open up some interesting connections.
Randall Cole:
Bad enough when images are not representational, but unfortunately in many cases they’re not even authentically aspirational
Lizabeth Montgomery:
I’m the art director at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. We are a small, private, very diverse university. A top goal for our university photography and photoshoots, is to capture the diversity of our student body.
michaellewis:
Yes, lets talk about how we recruit to black students in this COVID era?
aliatu burke:
@Lizabeth, if been reading about Hamline’s president.
Julie Mader-Meersman:
How do the panel members suggest helping students of color feel comfortable on a campus when there has been an incident of harmful speech that is sadly also protected by free speech?
Susan Ramey:
We were intentional for years in showing diverse students in our marketing materials, but attempted to keep an honest representation of our student body. Our student body is now over 30% non-white - so that in our last photo shoot we had to be mindful of including white students. However, that diversity is not reflected in our administration, faculty, or staff, which is problematic.
Pouya:
“Structural Inequality” and similar concepts can start being taught NOW - not as a vocabulary - but as core aspect of teaching throughout ALL courses.
sarahhaig:
How do you make students feel safe when something like a hate speech or hate based action goes to a student conduct office where privacy laws take over and the students watching for some sort of solution never hear an outcome?
michaellewis:
We’re teaching our students online now. We transitioned from face-to-face in mid March. We’re being told by our administration that we will be online for the forceable future. Any suggestions on using social media to recruit?
Joyce Thomas:
What kind of projects do you think we can create to help promote social justice?
Meaghan Dee (she/hers) – VT:
If anyone wants to keep the conversation going with design educators after this, the Design Educators Community has a Facebook discussion group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/AIGAdec/?source_id=96016099476) and are open to contributing authors https://educators.aiga.org/ (and recently started a new series called “Perspectives and Reflections” for thoughts on Race and Identity in Design Education)
Denise Harnish:
Will this be available to non-members online afterward?
VFH:
I think we designers of color need to think about our responsibility to pass along and teach at HBCU’s. That’s where are students are.
Christopher Klonowski:
@DeniseHarnish yes, this will be available through the UCDA website (ucda.com)
Meaghan Dee (she/hers) – VT:
https://poly-mode.com/
Susan Ramey:
What are the extra challenges of being female and black? (Tasheka touches on a couple points.)
Nikki Juen (she/her):
Our MFA in Graphic Design Program at Vermont College of Fine Arts operates in a hybrid model and has three Black faculty members, like Silas just said! VCFA is an accredited and more affordable option for an MFA. The hybrid model means that we can, and have, migrated to an online diaspora during the pandemic. Two of our excellent faculty are on this panel (Silas and Tasheka) and we have alumni on this webinar including Pierre!
Gretchen Kearney:
What is the best way to honestly critique my work from a diversity and bias perspective. For instance, am I communicating in a traumatic, exclusive or biased way in this approach or storyboard? When I start thinking about how to solicit diverse colleagues or diverse groups of students for their feedback, I can imagine a few solutions: there’s a movement for compensation at our university for asking for that mental work, which I agree with, and I think this may be necessary every time we ask for feedback about our performance. But how do I ask respectfully, coworkers to evaluate work and assist with that without causing trauma? Is it necessary for me to find that help among the white community and self-training rather than ask for that mental work when compensation may not be appropriate for a colleague?
Meaghan Dee (she/hers) – VT:
“Redefining what professional means” – and also think about your personal definitions of “good design”
Meaghan Dee (she/hers) – VT:
<3
Christine Prado:
Aldrena
Christine Prado:
Aldrena Corder presented
Christine Prado:
Fantastic presentation
Meaghan Dee (she/hers) – VT:
https://www.ucda.com/files/1580/
Marq Mervin:
https://aldrena.com/work#/thesis/
Angelica Sibrian:
Do any of you have any digital resources to showcase black and brown designers’ work?
Pierre Bowins:
How do we elevate and amplify Black Designers within UCDA, and where can Black designers succeed in the field?And while thinking about that. How do we find tangible results toward amplifying Black voices when there are few examples in our history books, classrooms, or design firms?
Angelica Sibrian:
… to inspire students.
Ali Place:
https://peopleofcraft.com/
michaellewis:
Would any of you volunteer to do virtual presentations?
Meaghan Dee (she/hers) – VT:
The AIGA DEC and DEI put together some Anti-Racism, Equity, and Inclusion resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tpAhZ8xzXiEngDE5egzpuFh3O82KZbZglpgvkNp7smo/edit
shannon doronio:
https://www.revisionneeded.com/
This is a collaborative project created with my design students
Angela Bains:
Finding white allies within educational institutions is important. There are many non-Black students, Faculty and staff who get it and want to learn more and be a part of dismantling and expanding inclusion. We welcome White allies to help make the change!!!
shannon doronio:
https://ramongd.com/Decolonizing-graphic-Design
aliatu burke:
All excellent resources!
aliatu burke:
thanks
Nikki Juen (she/her):
@Angelica thesis happening next week.
https://perpetualbeta.vcfa.edu/2020/07/02/the-missing-chapters-some-history-about-black-graphic-design/
Nikki Juen (she/her):
*this
Pamela Fogg:
Making sure we have Black speakers at events and in other areas of the org—on the board, in the magazine, as judges etc
Meaghan Dee (she/hers) – VT:
AIGA Raleigh assembled some resources for Design more broadly: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PQEHw7J8bpGCfHH2AID7YMnbAuZU4bcER0v0spfLkqE/edit
aubree:
https://blackswho.design/
aubree:
https://www.portlandincolor.com/
shannon doronio:
If you are a non-black designer, expand your network of people you can refer work to, share work with—start referring ONLY BIPOC designers for a while
Meaghan Dee (she/hers) – VT:
Yes, how do we keep the conversation going / turn this into real change?
Meaghan Dee (she/hers) – VT:
https://www.decolonisingdesign.com/
Katie Krcmarik:
Alrdena said she will update her site with the presentation later this weekend if anyone wants to check it out.
Christine Prado:
Ali: contact me. Once we know what we are doing with the conference, we would love to continue the conversation.
Stephen Coles:
Black Type Designers & Foundry Owners https://www.notion.so/typographica/Black-Type-Designers-Foundry-Owners-60480cf235434d5085db34b39e76205e
Gina Gray:
I’m recording the chat so we can put that up on our site when we put the video recording up.
Angelica Sibrian:
@Nikki, and everyone, Thank you. These links are great.
aliatu burke:
@Christine Absolutely
Nikki Juen (she/her):
No paywalls!
Christine Prado:
@Ali, great! Sorry we did not connect in Portland. This conversation has been great.
Stephen Coles:
AMEN
Meaghan Dee (she/hers) – VT:
This book?
https://www.amazon.com/Tempered-Radicals-People-Difference-Inspire/dp/0875849059
Sondra Graff:
Kelly Walters_ https://brightpolkadot.com/
Pouya:
Q: As we move forward - can we use conceptual umbrellas ( such as “decolonizing design” ) to contain the breadth of challenges design is facing? Including black design, diversity and inclusion, racism, etc. to their fullest extent
Gretchen Kearney:
Thank you for the links and ideas everyone!
Angela Bains:
@Pouya has a great point. We have to look at a “decolonizing design” model.
michaellewis:
How can we get a list of all the panelist social media sites, websites, etc., so we can follow them.
Gina Gray:
We can put that together for you all
Pouya:
Q: I guess to broaden that question: As we move forward - can we use conceptual umbrellas ( such as “decolonizing design” ) to contain the breadth of challenges design is facing? Including black design, diversity and inclusion, racism, etc. to their fullest extent… or do we need more exacting terminologies, and approaches.
shannon doronio:
The OTIS call was heartbreaking
Meaghan Dee (she/hers) – VT:
https://wherearetheblackdesigners.com/ (last week’s event)
Karen Gutowsky-Zimmerman:
Was last week’s event recorded?
Meaghan Dee (she/hers) – VT:
Yes, they have them on YouTube
Meaghan Dee (she/hers) – VT:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM36IruzO6YCdzB4ihoNYLw/videos
shannon doronio:
How do we get Allies to show up and witness?
Meaghan Dee (she/hers) – VT:
Here’s specifically the one with Antoinette (and Kelly Walters, who was also mentioned in the chat): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QprO27Q-Umo
Karen Gutowsky-Zimmerman:
Thank you!
Angelica Sibrian:
Yes, thank you for that! @ Marq.
shannon doronio:
When they say “free speech” hit em with Imminent Lawless Action - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imminent_lawless_action
Kelly McMurray:
This has been amazing. Thank you to the speakers!
Angela Bains:
@Marq Mervin it’s tough but we have to do it.
Olympia Crawford:
This has been great, thank you all!
Christine Prado:
So true. Every woman knows that if a man says it, it will be heard. We need to remember that for our black colleagues as well. Thank you.
stephanie estrada:
Thank you, Marq!
Meaghan Dee (she/hers) – VT:
Yes, thank you everyone
Susan Ramey:
Thank you, Marq!
Marty Maxwell Lane:
Thank you everyone!
shannon doronio:
FANTASTIC!
Amy Schuldt:
Thank you all!
Angela Bains:
Materials for White allies: https://www.dismantlecollective.org/resources/
garyrozanc:
Thanks Everyone!
Susan Ramey:
This was excellent. <3
Sondra Graff:
Thank you all
kinsleym:
Thank you!
Vida Sacic:
Thank you all!
michaellewis:
I’ve enjoyed this greatly!!! Thanks to all the panelists!
wyvette williams:
Thank you!
Pamela Fogg:
This was great—thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
Lace Smith:
Thank you, all!
Julie Mader-Meersman:
Thank you panelists for UCDA for hosting this!!
stephanie estrada:
I thank all the panelists for sharing their experiences, insight and wisdom.
Katie Bevan:
Thank you everyone! This was a great panel!
Tony Mungiguerra:
This was awesome
Silas Munro:
Thanks everyone! Amazing discussion
Chelsey Graham:
Excellent panel! Thank you for this!
Angelica Sibrian:
Thank you, everyone.
Kara Hooper:
Thank you very much for your time and sharing your observations and thoughts.
Krista Mayfield:
Awesome discussion. Thank you SO MUCH!
Sarah Patterson:
Thank you!
Simon Sung:
Thank you for the great conversation.
Lydia Turner:
Thank you for this important conversation!
Ana Melendez:
Thank you, all!
Liz Underwood:
👏🏼GREAT job, panel! 👏🏼
Laura Rossi Garcia:
THANK YOU so much!
Jeffrey Smith:
Thank you, everyone—really great stuff!
Allison Baumbusch:
Excellent! Thank you!!
Katie Krcmarik:
Thank you all! Great job to all the panelists!
Lindsay Augustyn:
Thank you!
Angela Bains:
Thank you. This was amazing.
dyakley:
Thank you so much!
Nikki Juen (she/her):
Thank you All!
Karen Gutowsky-Zimmerman:
Thank you!!!
teripoindexter:
Thank you!
Jonathan Wong:
Thanks to all! Fantastic.
Kristen Martin:
Thank you so much! This was wonderful.
jinderhe:
thank you, speakers. I’m glad I was able to listen and learn.
Pouya:
I am putting together a readebr - following from my CAA Conference panels: Decolonizing Design: Considering a Non-Western Approach (2018) + Decolonizing Design Education: A Contextual-Pragmatic Approach (2019). Please participate if interested pjahans@oksatate.edu
Terrill Thomas:
Amazing conversation. Thank you everyone!
Carla Baratta:
Thank you! This was great.
Lucy Kimundi:
Thank you for attending and listening.
Angela Bains:
Great speakers! You were all amazing. Thank you again
cherierichardson:
thank you so much for your authenticity
eshapiro:
From Evelyn Shapiro: Thank you for presenting this panel!
Pouya:
{ Thank you ! }
Christopher Klonowski:
UCDA invites everyone to fill out an evaluation and provide your feedback on this panel discussion: https://ucda.typeform.com/to/LGlAvLpY