Celebrating the African-American Practitioners Absent From Way Too Many Classroom Lectures by Madeleine Morley, Eye on Design, 2018 and Typography as a Radical Act in an Industry Ever-dominated by White Men by Silas Munro, Eye on Design, 2019, Design Gets More Diverse by Alice Rawsthorn, NYTimes, 2011.

  • How do we change the commercial design field to include a diversity of voices and visions?
  • What will the commercial design field and the study of design history look like in 20 years?

The way that we can change the commercial design field to include diversity of voices and visions would be to include and interact with people with different cultural and racial backgrounds. Giving inclusivity for people of color does not only give them exposure, but gives a different perspective and a new feeling towards design. A few great examples would be the exhibition called “ As, Not for: Dethroning Our Absolutes” curated by Jerome Harris, it gives the spotlight to Black designers and their history. TrĂ© Seals created a type foundry for “creatives of color who feel they don’t have a say in their industry.” This is a great way for designers to represent themselves and this could also inspire new designers like them. 

I think the commercial design field and study of design history in 20 years would hopefully include POC designers and their contributions to design. We’re at a stage where technology is getting more and more advanced. So there shouldn’t be any problem including other people that made a significance in design because they’re works are just as important as the other notable designers that are being taught in these design classes.

#1

#2

#3