We at IDSA have been deeply troubled to learn of the Supreme Court’s rulings banning colleges and universities from utilizing Affirmative Action to level the playing field for non white students, and the ruling in the 303 Creative LLC vs. Elenis case, which discriminates against the LGBTQ+ community. Both cases will have sweeping and harmful impacts for our industry. At IDSA, we have been actively contemplating the best way to address and support our community in light of these concerning developments.
When we formed the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Council (DEIC) three years ago, our vision was to transform the design industry to be more equitable, and to support and celebrate the diversity of designers within the ID field. This cannot be done without repairing the injustices of the past and an honest reflection of our history.
How can we keep a vibrant community of designers if the Supreme Court banished affirmative action in upper education. How can we promote human-centered design practices if there’s a ruling that states we can be selective on who we design for?
We know that these systems of oppressions are not unlike the type that built our organization’s foundation, but we resist. Our industry will thrive more fully if every designer is able to show up unapologetically as their 100% authentic self. Collectively, we can be more efficient in creating impact.
We invite you to let the following questions resonate in your mind and if you’re willing to share your thoughts, we’d like to ask:
How might we resist systems of oppression in our work? How might we empower our community to show up as themselves fully?
We encourage you to share your thoughts with us at [email protected]. We look forward to connecting with you.