Observed: Insights from the Design Industry

Diversity and Inclusion in Tech

• Prominent initiatives like Girls In Tech and Women Who Code are closing down.
• This trend follows a backlash against diversity programs in tech, influenced by right-wing legal challenges.

Celebrating Black Design

• Kevan Hall and TJ Walker, founders of the Black Design Collective, are celebrated.
• Brian Johnson, a key figure in Indigenous design history, shares his research and work in decolonizing graphic design.

Racism in Design

• Discussion on the inherent racism in book cover design.

Industry Updates

• Pantone Color Insider launches, with "Peach Fuzz" as the color of the year for 2024.
• Examination of how designers view the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.

Indigenous Design and Representation

• Elisapeta Heta, one of the few Māori architects in New Zealand, highlights the lack of diversity in architecture.
• Bring Them Home, a documentary about Blackfoot people's efforts to restore wild buffalo, wins a climate justice award.

Philanthropy and Education

• Michael Bloomberg donates $175 million each to three HBCUs for medical education.
• The first Indigenous design camp for teens aims to introduce Native American youth to architecture and design careers.

Notable Passings

• Obituary for Sir Kenneth Grange, a renowned British industrial designer.

Design and Accessibility

• Michael Graves Pottery Barn collection focuses on design for accessibility and inclusiveness.
• Growing emphasis on designing commercial spaces to support neurodiversity.

Miscellaneous

• WXY Architecture and Jerome Haferd Studio win a competition to design cultural venues in Africatown, Alabama.
• The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) removes "equity" from its DEI language, sparking debate.
• Charles Blow discusses the impact of iconic photographs in design and media.
• Call for photographers focused on equitable water futures in New York by The Design Trust for Public Space.

Philosophy and Design

• Clodagh, an Irish designer, speaks on breaking rules to create environments that make people happy.
• Manuel Lima critiques the design industry for avoiding responsibility when design leads to issues.