On Multi Culturalism

Looking out to a possible future, to a time hopefully not too far off, and seeing a more diverse and inclusive country gives me hope. To me, a more multicultural world is a better world.

As a designer, that is a common starting point for many of my projects. With clients and collaborators, this is a common understanding we all share. Trying to solve problems together we see this as either a common beginning or part of the place we’re trying to go together. So the thing that worries me, if you don’t see multiculturalism as a positive, then where does that leave us?

If multiculturalism is a bad thing, stripping away at the traditional fabric of a place, what are we to do about it? Sure, we can talk as neighbors and citizens about these things, and we should. But we probably won’t work on a project together, will we? If I want to see a community more welcoming to those who are different, and you do not, how are we going to come together to find solutions to a problem we don’t agree on? 

For example, in a recent workshop, we ideated around huge issues — racism, sexism, poverty, and gun violence. The starting point we began from included an understanding that in the not too distant future, America’s population was going to be more multicultural. The numbers are obvious. Everyone in the room understood this and agreed it was a positive. Then we worked together to try to find approaches we could take to address these huge issues. 

Designers, civic leaders, teachers, entrepreneurs, and community members collaborated in a co-ceation process for civic engagement. We ideated, discussed, shared, and received feedback. And we started to see visions appear for a better future. One with more racial equity, gender equity, more understanding around what poverty looks like, and a safer environment where guns are not so pervasive.

But, if this starts to help further solidify a world where diversity and inclusion is praised, and you are against a multicultural view of the world, do you want these outcomes at all? And if this is the foundation of how I see the world in the coming years, I probably will not compromise. 

Where does that leave us?

Look Away

We are living fully immersed in “Look Away” politics. Outrageous lies, deception, and alternative false views of reality. All done to distract us. To keep us confused. To make sure we do not see what is really happening. Power to the People? Na, to them it’s power for the wealthy only. We the people must fight back, must not be distracted, must not look away.

Omaha Startup Week 2017

It’s Startup Week in Omaha starting today. I’m on a panel in the design track with a few other Omaha designers to share our thoughts on design for good. Here’s the setup:

Today we find ourselves in a rapidly changing global society. Information moves faster than ever and impacts a broader audience. As designers, we have an opportunity to open hearts and minds with our unique ability to solve problems through visual communication and user experience. With this in mind; how do we encourage growth and acceptance through our work and leadership?

Design & Social Consciousness Panel
Tuesday May 2, 2017 // 1–3 PM
The Startup Collaborative
1905 Harney, 7th Floor

How you gonna change the world?

Lots on this topic of late amongst designers. Here are some of my thoughts. A working list. To any graphic designer who is interested in changing the world with design:

1. Do no harm. If you are working on projects for big oil, big pharma, or any known quantity of companies that pollute, oppress, lie, or exclude, then stop. 
2. Again, no harm. No work for any brands who amplify a world that makes racism, sexism, ageism, militarism, mindless consumerism, or any other system of oppression seem acceptable.
3. Check your privilege and standup for universal values: transparency, fairness, open-mindedness, creativity, and thinking critically.
4. Infuse high standards into your day-to-day work. Use your voice. Be an outspoken advocate for equity and inclusion. 

And then:

1. Make your own cause-focused design project. Poster, postcard, infographic, share graphic. Everything counts, everything matters. We see thousands of messages each day and we need more than the ones just asking us to buy something.
2. Take on projects for organizations who need help. Start with the issues you care about. Find the people who are working on those issues. Reach out. Ask how you can help. 
3. Teach your skills. To underserved youth, to older people changing careers, or anyone who doesn’t know what you know.
4. Partner with a cause. Become the designer within a group of agitators. Be a part of the movement. Listen, help, design, etc.
5. Make any number of these things, and whatever else you think fits into your mission to change the world, your thing. Full time.

Some good places to start. Some action-items to work through. Feel free to use, add to, or share.

On Scarcity

Fear of sharing power leads to a halting of progress. If I allow someone else to gain, then I don’t lose. Not at all. There is enough to go around, trust me. Working to improve your community comes with sharing your power where it can actually be utilized. It starts with you, and then it connects with others. Systemic problems have all been designed, and they can be redesigned to be more equitable. And we can design what the redesign is, together. 

Workshopping the Workshop

What makes a good workshop experience? I’ve participated in some solid workshops. I’ve helped facilitate ones as well. Thinking about how to appropriately structure a workshop is an interesting design problem. As of now, I feel like I can get behind the following items as positive aspects of a workshop:

• The facilitator establishes the tone. And holds it.
• With the tone set, everyone can then start together from a common understanding of the problem the participants are trying to solve.
• Time is used in a variety of ways. There is listening and talking, sitting and standing. We work together and we work alone. We discuss, present, and get feedback.
• There is a diversity of attendees. (race, gender, age, sexuality, background, occupation, and so on) 
• Approaches are arrived at together.
• Everyone leaves with clearly defined action items.

I haven’t formally been trained in facilitation. I’ve dabbled. But it is something I’m becoming more interested in and see as part of a secondary set of skills I would like to continue to hone. To me, it fits nicely into the tools needed to be a graphic designer today. I would say more so than learning to code. To make ideas happen, from concept through to execution, knowing you’ll most likely need collaborators along the way, anything you can do to enhance your skills as a communicator of ideas is a good thing.

Do Not Think You Know Best

Because you don’t. A topic in a couple places of Michael Bierut’s presentation last week was a challenge to the notion that designers always know best. They know the best type, the best visual, and the best overall solution to the problem. This can be the case, but not always. Michael Bierut has experienced this. I’ve experienced this. Many times. The client or another collaborator brings the solution. It’s not uncommon. And you, the designer, need to be listening enough to recognize and grab hold as needed.