Mapping equity and design
A research project conducted as part of an independent study and research fellowship in collaboration with Project Inkblot, to understand the language, context, and field around equity and design to identify key players and ways of thinking.
Role: research, project scoping
Collaborators: Miriam Young, Jahan Mantin, Boyuan Gao
Timeline: January 2020—May 2020
OVERVIEW
Equity, diversity and inclusion are still largely misunderstood concepts and not inherently considered in the design field. In recent years, a growing number of consultancies, nonprofits and individual advocates have put forth new frameworks that blend the strengths of design thinking with racial equity work. What does this burgeoning field of equity design look like today?
In partnership with Project Inkblot, we set out to document the diverse landscape of organizati ons focused on topics like equity-centered design, design justice, liberatory design and more. We wanted to understand the origins of this work and how diff erent organizations were both defining these concepts and putting them into practice.
RESEARCH GOALS
Document the variety of organizational structures of groups working in the field of equity design
Identify how different types of organizati ns are defining and tackling issues related to equity and design
Understand the frameworks and tools these organizations are using
Map the ecosystem of key players in the fi ld, showing differences in who they serve and how they collaborate
Recruitment
We leveraged personal relationships and cold emailed through.
methods
Desktop research: we scoped a desk research of equity organizations, landscape of equity
Interviews: We conducted 30-60 minute 1:1 interviews with 14 participants, who described themselves as designers, CEOs, or founders of organizations focused on equity-centered design, design justice, liberatory design organizations/individuals. We also interviewed some representatives from larger design organizations who had been using terminology around “justice” and “equity.”
Workshop:
learnings
Mixed understandings and uses of terminology leads to potenti al confusion, competition and co-opting of equity in/by design.
Formal + informal processes for establishing “true” commitment to equity.
Larger organizations primarily focus on diversity and inclusion, and representation at the leadership level.
Equity design frameworks include self-reflection in various forms to combat individual biases of designers.
Practitioners are optimistic about the future of equity design, which feels especially relevant in the context of the current political climate and pandemic (note: this research was conducted prior to the murder of George Floyd)
Emerging themes
Equity starts with diversity; diversity is necessary but not suffi cient.
Top leadership and organizational buy-in is essential for equity transformation
Equity may be at odds with increased scale and size of organization
Smaller organizations rely on word of mouth to gain traction and clients
Frameworks help structure equity design but also enable co-opting and the “toolkitting” of equity design
Self-awareness and reflection are key components to all equity frameworks
Competitors vs. collaborators: there is tension between the openness and closedness of the field of equity design
There are no formal metrics/guidelines to tell if an organization is dedicated to equity
Equity design ultimately is about action-oriented equity, but people are still figuring it out
OUTCOMES
Created participant “profiles” for all of our participants and a guide to equity frameworks
Scoped a consequent research fellowship project, recruited and mentored a team for Project Inkblot to continue the project
Building conversation around equity design community and common language around equity and design
Research summary deck. View full summary deck here