This council has many important responsibilities within IDSA’s DEI efforts that include: increasing diversity and minority representation in IDSA’s core programming, developing pathways and partnerships that extend IDSA’s ability to support minority and low-income communities, and to increase access to industrial design education and professional opportunities, and be a catalyst in transforming the industrial design industry so that it better reflects our diverse country and world, and to dismantle the structural racism and inequities that permeate design and our communities.
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council (DEIC) was formally established by IDSA’s Board of Directors in July of 2020. The creation of the DEIC provides IDSA with an opportunity to not only learn from underrepresented and underserved communities, but also bring them in to the IDSA community through active participation and leadership—all while increasing access to and awareness of industrial design.
Vision
IDSA’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council endeavors to invite participation, encourage dialogue, and enable action for a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive industrial design profession through it’s focus on changes in three (3) key areas:
Within IDSA
The DEIC aims to significantly increase diversity and minority representation in IDSA’s core programming, events, leadership teams, membership, publications, partnerships, awards, and scholarships.
Within ID Education
Further, the DEIC plans to recommend new pathways and partnerships to the Board of Directors that will extend IDSA’s ability to support minority and low-income communities, and to bring more awareness to the industrial design profession.
Within the ID Industry
Finally, the DEIC strives to be a catalyst in the transformation of the industrial design profession, so that it better reflects our diverse country and world. As a values-driven organization, IDSA can play a major and important role in this progress.
The DEIC also partners with IDSA’s Design Foundation on educational initiatives, such as the Event Access Program which offers college students who are underrepresented in industrial design—primarily BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), female-identified, non-binary, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse and individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities—complimentary access in the form of free admission to events produced by the Industrial Designers Society of America.
IDSA has dedicated financial and operational resources towards helping the DEIC achieve their goals. Committing to and realizing their success will have a profound benefit that impacts so much more than just our organization alone. We want to demonstrate that institutional change is possible and we must lead by example.
The DEIC is further supported by an extended group of volunteers (IDSA members and non-members) who form a DEIC General Council and serve as an additional resource for insight, connection, and representation. Meetings for the General Council are held at the discretion of the DEIC leaders (typically) on a quarterly basis.
Committee Composition
Led by the DEIC Chair, the DEIC aims for a minimum of four Council leaders and a maximum of eight, all of whom will be current IDSA members in good standing. It is recommended that the DEIC always include a majority of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) individuals. Representation of women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and differently abled individuals is also required.
All Council leaders will be appointed by IDSA’s Chair of the Board of Directors and approved by the full Board, in accordance with IDSA’s Bylaws. Council leaders will serve staggered terms, the length of which will be determined by the Council upon its formation and approved by the Board of Directors.
The Council may be supported by a working group of up to 15 people, determined at the discretion of the DEIC Chair, consisting of IDSA members and non-members from industrial design education and industry. These Council members will provide vital assistance and input for the DEIC’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Get in touch with the DEIC leaders, please email [email protected].