Explore the intersections of racial justice and design through self reflection and coalition building.

What roles can we play in addressing systemic racism? And how do we build/hone our skills to be champions for justice and equity?

This course will help build the muscles and mindsets needed to engage in courageous and creative design work that challenges the racism in society–and in ourselves.  This is not a 101 course on racial equity.  While those spaces are important, this course is for students who are already actively working toward racial justice—  those who are community workers, organizers, activists, abolitionists, educators, etc—  and are looking to build their tools and networks. 

We will engage in deep reflection, intentional action, and purposeful coalition building.  As a full group we will connect with one another, build upon shared language and terms of engagement, develop protocols and norms, and explore how design can advance liberatory work. Individually and in identity-based affinity groups(including racial affinity groups) we will interrogate our identities, unpack oppressive norms we’ve internalized, and build upon our knowledge of past and current struggles for justice.  

Students will use a variety of tools to build reflective practice, justice, and collaboration into their design work.  Students will be given space and time to organize the tools they use throughout the course into a toolkit and to build a roadmap which they will use to design and implement their equity work throughout the coming year–and hopefully beyond. 

* Note: no prior experience with design is required.

* Note: We have scheduled the class meeting times to include all group and individual work. Additional homework outside of class will be minimal.  This means that being available for all class time is essential.

Learn With

Teaching Team