What stood out to me but unfortunately not surprising was how people of color are stereotyped and treated in the design field. In the article, Design Gets More Diverse by Alice Rawsthorn, Eddie Opara shared his personal experience when he was in design school working late with his friend Kojo and one of their friend came and ask them ‘Why are you still here?’ to which Kojo replied:‘It’s because we’re black. We have to work harder than you.’ it is distressing when you are judged by the complexion of your skin and not by your work but the good thing is that time is changing and we are now seeing more people from diverse backgrounds and ethnicity working in a design field.

We can change the commercial design field to include a diversity of voices and visions by making sure that companies are actively recruiting a diverse range of candidates for design positions. Ensure that the recruitment process is fair and equitable for all applicants. Invest in the development of diverse creative talent. This can be done through mentorship programs, internships, and other educational opportunities. Elevate the voices of underrepresented communities in the design industry. Provide platforms for these voices to be heard and recognized.

In 20 years, the commercial design field is likely to be much more competitive and complex due to advances in technology and the emergence of new trends. Designers will need to be up-to-date on the latest design tools and techniques to stay competitive. Designers will also need to be able to adapt to quickly changing trends in order to stay relevant. The study of design history will remain an important part of the commercial design field and will become even more so in the future. Designers will need to be able to draw on past design trends and styles in order to create innovative designs that meet the needs of their clients. Designers will also need to understand the historical context of the design in order to effectively communicate with clients.