Design in Public will be closed on Friday, June 12, 2020 in solidarity with Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County’s call for a general strike and Statewide Silent March.
Design in Public joins the many community voices raised to condemn the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and the many other Black lives cut short by the systems of racism and oppression our society has upheld for more than 400 years.
The Seattle Design Festival has always been a place to convene conversations about design’s role in a broader system of racism, violence, injustice, and inequity. For ten years, the Festival has served as a venue for programming that has challenged us to question our biases and assumptions, and explored design’s impact on equity, privilege, and inclusion.
But we must do more. We recognize the need for greater action and accountability.
We commit to the hard, sustained work of examining our own role in the problem of racism, and our own responsibility in addressing it.
We will be transparent about our goals and actions.
We will use our platform to seek design solutions that address and rectify racial injustice and highlight the role design plays in oppressing communities of color.
We will follow the lead of the communities we serve and strengthen our partnerships with Black-led organizations.
We will center underrepresented voices and amplify the work of BIPOC designers.
The Seattle Design Festival is a collective effort. We humbly invite feedback from our design community to guide our work and hold us accountable to our words.
Racial Justice Resources for Seattle Architects and Designers
Our Vision:
Design in Public envisions a culture of design that fosters equitable, resilient, thriving communities.
Our Mission:
We unleash the design thinker in everyone to illuminate Seattle’s challenges and ignite action.