The Black Experience in Design spotlights teaching practices,
research, stories, and conversations from a Black/African diasporic
lens.
Excluded from traditional design history and educational canons that
heavily favor European modernist influences, the work and experiences of
Black designers have been systematically overlooked in the profession
for decades. However, given the national focus on diversity, equity, and
inclusion in the aftermath of the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests
in the United States, educators, practitioners, and students now have
the opportunity--as well as the social and political momentum--to make
long-term, systemic changes in design education, research, and practice,
reclaiming the contributions of Black designers in the process.
The Black Experience in Design, an anthology centering a range of
perspectives, spotlights teaching practices, research, stories, and
conversations from a Black/African diasporic lens. Through the voices
represented, this text exemplifies the inherently collaborative and
multidisciplinary nature of design, providing access to ideas and topics
for a variety of audiences, meeting people as they are and wherever they
are in their knowledge about design. Ultimately, The Black Experience
in Design serves as both inspiration and a catalyst for the next
generation of creative minds tasked with imagining, shaping, and
designing our future.
