04. Reading Group #4 Representation in Design

Introduction

As designers, focusing on our work in a vacuum does a disservice to the people who make it. Our topic is about who gets “left behind” in design, mainstream or otherwise. This discussion will be highlighting various BIPOC artists and works about the biases found in the design field, and what we can do as a society better.

Readings

Ramon Tejada Decolonizing Design Reader↗

A good example of a project towards decolonizing design is by Ramon Tejada, the speaker from our last class, who is a Latin American Dominican designer from an underrepresented group in design. In his work, the Decolonizing Design Reader is an ever-growing resource that aims to make the design world more accessible and inclusive. I really enjoy how he emphasizes the importance of expanding the world of design through different stories and ideas coming from BIPOC people.

Black Designer Representation↗

“One potential reason for this underrepresentation could be the lack of access to educational opportunities in the field. Design education can be expensive, and students from marginalised and racialised communities may not have the financial means to pursue this career path. Additionally, the lack of diversity in the design industry can create a cycle of exclusion, where black graphic designers struggle to enter the field due to the limited opportunities available.”

Designing with an Awareness of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)↗

“The design field lacks diversity.”

The design field itself is notably lacking in diversity of gender and ethnic representation. The 2016 Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that for 878,000 designers, there were:

  • 54.8% women
  • 5.1% African-American
  • 8.4% Asian-American
  • 10.6% Latino

Women Representation in Design↗

“While women make up a large portion of the design workforce, they are still woefully underrepresented in senior and leadership roles. In the UK, women account for around 63% of design graduates but this figure drops dramatically to just 18% when looking at directors or senior leadership positions.”

Questions

  • Is graphic design inherently political, or is that exclusively assigned by the designer?
  • Does social/colonial bias in design reflect identical real world biases, or is the discrimination in the design space unique?