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Inclusion played a role in diversifying graphic design. Inclusion refers to “the act or practice of including and accommodating people who have historically been excluded (because of their race, gender, sexuality, or ability).” Diversity is the practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc.

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Diversity in design is important because having a wide variety of perspectives at the table throughout the design process allows us to design more inclusive experiences for a broader audience. “Diversity in design means diversity of experience, perspective, and creativity—otherwise known as diversity of thought—and these can be shaped by multiple factors including race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual identity, ability/disability, and location, among others.” It empowers designers to create products whose experiences serve as many people as possible. Diversity and inclusion are two interconnected concepts—but they are far from interchangeable.

 

Interview: Patricia Childers and Stefan Sagmeister.

Since its inception, design has been lacking diversity. At the beginning of the 19th century, designers wanted to create a different approach to design that stepped away from the Victorian era into a more unique and diverse approach to design. German architect Walter Gropius found the Bauhaus in the city of Weimar. “Its core aim was a radical concept: to reimagine the material world to reflect the unity of all the arts.” The Bauhaus combined elements of both fine arts and design education in a curriculum that studied materials, color theory, and formal relationships to prepare for more specialized studies. Students came from a diverse range of social and educational backgrounds.

 

Interview: Patricia Childers and Stefan Sagmeister.

 

As the design progressed from a modern era to a post-modern era, diversity slowly took form in the design community. Designers wanted more inclusiveness in their designs. The evolution toward inclusive design began in the 1950s with new attention to design for people with disabilities. In Europe, Japan, and the United States, barrier-free designs were developed to remove obstacles in the built environment for people with physical disabilities. Diversity in design started when workplace diversity training first emerged in the mid-1960s following the introduction of equal employment laws and affirmative action. Before this, many companies had known histories of racial discrimination.

Interview: Patricia Childers and Stefan Sagmeister.

Designers wanted to use different styles to help them diversify the design community. Using semiotic language, signs and symbols can represent diversity. Designers can get their message across to a more diverse audience. For example, culture Jamming appropriates contemporary signs to make a statement to a wider audience.… Playing with the branded images and icons of consumer culture to make consumers aware of surrounding problems and diverse cultural experiences that warrant their attention. When designers take a more diverse approach to design that embodies society, they speak to society.

 

Interview: Patricia Childers and Stefan Sagmeister.

 

Overall, diversity and inclusion in design can encourage greater understanding between different user groups, contributing to a better experience for everyone. Inclusion with diversity in design is not only about making sure that designers of color have equal opportunities to succeed professionally. It’s also about driving greater innovation and creativity within our field by sourcing a wider range of talent. In short, a more diverse industry is significant for all of us because it brings new ideas and reduces homogeneity in design.

 

Interview: Patricia Childers and Stefan Sagmeister.

 

So, in conclusion, inclusion is necessary for diversifying the design community. It has fostered change, promoted cultural diversity, and changed our mindset of how we look and see things. Inclusion supports a full range of human diversity; it aims to accommodate those diverse experiences. Having diversity and inclusion will improve the balance of opinions and views in any setting. A well-balanced world will accept different opinions and reduce fears of differences. We live in a very diverse society and inclusion is important for us to continue to grow as a society.

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