Diversify by Design (DxD)
A coalition to catalyze racial equity and justice in the design profession.
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© 2023 Impact Collaborative, LLC
© 2023 Impact Collaborative, LLC
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Shawn Williams
© 2023 Impact Collaborative, LLC
A JUST AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY REQUIRES A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE DESIGN PROFESSION.
TOGETHER, WE’RE �MAKING IT HAPPEN.
In January, 2021, Diversify by Design (DxD), a coalition of partner organizations, experts, and advisors united in a coordinated effort to recognize the extraordinary racial disparities within the design industry and address them head on.
Through deep collaboration, D×D partners bring the solutions, people, and resources required to activate measurable, systemic change—focusing on five critical, interconnected aspects of the design ecosystem: Exposure, Education, Experience, Employment, and Empowerment.
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DxD Advisory Council
Priorities for DxD are informed by the DxD Advisory Council, comprised of individuals dedicated to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable design industry.
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DxD Advisory Council (cont.)
Priorities for DxD are informed by the DxD Advisory Council, comprised of leading voices and change makers in the design sector.
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Organizational Partners
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Impact-driven programs
DESIGN=
Since launching in 2021, DxD has demonstrated the power of collaboration through two major initiatives:
DxD INTENSIVES
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A program that develops and supports collaborations between industry partners and institutions of higher education that serve historically excluded populations.
An experiential learning initiative focused on introducing the world of design to historically excluded youth and expanding the impact of D×D’s youth program partners.
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DxD Intensives
The DxD Intensives program offers students at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) industry experience that hones their critical thinking, teamwork, and collaboration skills; helps build their portfolios; and establishes those all-important initial threads of a professional network. Reciprocally, it gives industry the long overdue and much needed opportunity to embrace diverse perspectives and start the hard work of creating inclusive environments.
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SUCCESS TO DATE
5 cohorts (2 more this Fall)
42 industry mentors
105 students engaged
INDUSTRY PARTNERS�Delta Dental
Workday
EDUCATION PARTNERS
San Francisco State University
Lehman College, CUNY
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Design=
Bringing together D×D’s youth program partners, educators, community-based organizations, and Amazon, Design= was co-developed to deliver interactive learning opportunities to thousands of young people to spark their interest in design. Since 2021, the program has introduced design to middle and high school youth through live workshops facilitated by DxD partner, designExplorr.
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SUCCESS TO DATE
7 geographies
23 industry designers
32 schools & orgs
1,040 students engaged
INDUSTRY PARTNERS�Amazon
Intuit
PROGRAM PARTNERS
designExplorr
Project Osmosis
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Design= Program Accomplishments (since Oct. 2021)
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geographies engaged
Cleveland, Akron, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC
1,040
youth ages 10-18 engaged
(goal of 750 exceeded!)
Youth Demographics
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designers from Amazon and Intuit joined live sessions with students to share their experience and background
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We’ve worked with a variety of schools and community-based organizations.
Cleveland Metropolitan School District
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio
ACE Mentorship Program of Cleveland
West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology
Sunrise of Philadelphia
YWCA National Capital Area
Baltimore City Public Schools
Women of Tomorrow
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Student Feedback
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“I would define design as a creative medium used to show individuality or communicate ideas.”
10th Grader �from Detroit
“Design is to innovate and create.”
6th Grader �from Washington, D.C.
“Design in my mind is using tools & resources to bring your imagination to life.”
11th Grader �from Detroit
“Design is happiness and teamwork.”
8th Grader �from Baltimore
92% would recommend the workshop to a friend
87% were more interested in design after the workshop
55% would like to hear from more designers about their work
“Design is the creative freedom to express yourself, organize ideas, draw attention. Design is the start of everything.”
10th Grader �from Detroit
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Educator Feedback
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100% agreed the facilitator was able to engage students successfully.
100% of respondents were satisfied with the workshop.
“I liked the prototyping exercise. I think it helped the students understand taking an idea from conception to a realized product.”
Bernard Suber, Career Exposure Camp
“Jacinda had so much energy and vitality, was creative in her approach, and the girls had the most fun I think they've had in all of our meetings this year.”
Rebeca Lazarean, Allen Park High School
“I loved that Jacinda was very friendly, organized and professional. She was such a character and the the girls thoroughly enjoyed her as an individual and the presentation.”
Centra Smith, MLK High School
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The Design= Journey So Far
Design= Live Workshops
Program kickoff with in-person programming for 1000+ students in collaboration with designExplorr!
Creating the Curriculum Kit
We’ve built the lessons, materials, and trainings for the curriculum kit in collaboration with Project Osmosis, the YWCA, and Breakthrough..
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2021
2022
2023
LAUNCHING AUGUST 2023
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What’s Ahead
Design='s live workshops were just the beginning. In collaboration with Program Partners, such as the YWCA, DxD has developed, tested and refined a core design curriculum.
The curriculum was created to exponentially extend Design='s reach and provide students with a deeper level of learning and engagement in design. The comprehensive, open access, free curriculum became available on August 15, 2023.
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About the Curriculum
Students complete a design challenge guided by 9 lessons taught by the educators they know with support from professionals who act as design mentors.
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design challenge
9 lessons
educators
design mentors
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Students choose �a design challenge �for their experience
Led by educators and design mentors, students build creative confidence �and design skills
Students research, brainstorm, prototype, �and test their solutions
Students explore �careers and hear from working professionals
UX/UI
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UX/UI
Graphic
Fashion
Industrial
Interior
Service
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Design= Curriculum Kit | Everything educators need to help students explore design.
DESIGN=
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Lesson Plans
Step-by-step guidance to help educators deliver the lessons, including facilitation instructions and tips.
Worksheets
Editable, printable activities designed to help engage students and guide �their work.
Videos
Curated videos of designers speaking about their careers, pathways to design, and advice for students.
Slides
Google Slides that include visual instructions that make it easier for educators to get started with the lesson.
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Where possible, Diversify by Design will connect educators with professional designers who will act as Design Mentors during all or part of the program— working alongside educators �to bring the program to life.
Design Mentors
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Training Videos
Mentor Materials
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2023 Program Timeline
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Q1 2023
Q2
Q4
Open Access Launch
Q3
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Initiatives currently in development
SOLUTIONS FOR AGENCIES
In addition to the Advisory Council and the coalition’s active initiatives, DxD is continually developing new initiatives and partnerships focused on systematic change across the design journey.
PATHWAYS
FILL THE GAP
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The Agency Working Group was formed in 2021 by three creative agencies – BBMG, Threespot, and Fringe22 – focused on addressing the unique needs and challenges similar organizations face in recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and retaining a racially diverse workforce.
Developed by Advisory Council member Mark Randall, “Pathways” provides aspiring creative professionals with a foundational introduction to various professions through open-sourced content curated by professional organizations.
“Fill the Gap” is a designed to provide "end-to end" opportunities to emerging diverse designers: from the first spark of interest in design, to traditional or unconventional education, to support throughout their first professional experiences.
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Join the DxD effort
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© 2023 Impact Collaborative, LLC