AIGA Chicago on ethics: a forum for critically important discussion and debate
“If we don’t have an outlet—if we don’t have a stage that will allow these topics to come out—then when will they be discussed?” — Nicolette Stosur-Bassett
Yesterday I had the privilege of witnessing members of our Chapter’s Community Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion, and Editorial teams — along with a cadre of guest panelists, dedicated volunteers, and members of our design community — come together at our first AIGA Chicago Design Ethics Roundtable. Any and everyone was welcome — members of AIGA or not — to participate in a day-long event blending panel discussions with small-group breakouts and fluid share-backs to discuss the concept of ethics across disciplines in the Design profession.
When I joined the AIGA Chicago board nearly 7 years ago, it was my hope that our Chapter would harness its potential to become a meaningful platform for dialog, debate, and impact — branching out from our “graphic arts” legacy to become a relevant and unifying force for the ever-evolving professional discipline of Design. When I had the honor to step up and serve as our Chapter President 3 years ago, that goal became commander’s intent.
It’s engagements like yesterday’s Design Ethics Roundtable that embody the promise and spirit of what our organization is about, and the powerful potential we have as a unifying force. It’s the individuals that turned out — many of whom I’ve never seen before attend an AIGA Chicago gathering — that makes me think we’re onto something as we broaden our output to encompass unique formats and thoughtful topics. And it’s the open, honest, and passionate dialog and debate that makes me proud to be a member of Design in Chicago.
We have a responsibility to create a forum for conversations like this — critically important dialog that lies at the heart of who we are as designers today, the role we serve in our society, and how our professional will be perceived in the future.
The goal of these forums is not necessarily to provide answers, but to open doors for conversation and debate. To provide a safe space to start this essential dialog — where our community can listen, learn, speak, challenge, ask questions, and explore difficult topics.
Ideas, not necessarily answers
Yesterday’s conversation is just the beginning. Highlights from the day abound—and the Chapter will follow up in short order with a deeper share-out of themes that bubbled to the surface. However a few concepts and quotes struck me, and feel especially important to share.
“Sometimes it’s not whether or not you’re ethical — it’s whether or not you can afford to be ethical.”
— Sharlene King (Salesforce)
“It’s not about ethics, it’s about principles. It’s about what you’ll [actually] do.”
—Christopher Rudd (IIT Institute of Design)
“Every atrocity we’ve seen and experienced [in our society] has been instigated by a mastermind — a designer.”
— Craig Stevenson (Open Architecture Chicago)
“If we’re not actively working against the things we don’t agree with, we’re complicit … neutrality is its own political stance.”
— Christopher Rudd (IIT Institute of Design)
We take the profession of Design and our responsibility in the world as professional practitioners seriously.
If that resonates with you, you have a home with AIGA Chicago; you have a home with AIGA. And we welcome you to the table to join the conversation.
Bravo to all who made this happen on the stage and behind the scenes. Especially AIGA Chicago VP of Community Engagement Mary Foyder, Event Chair Nicolette Stosur-Bassett, Co-Chair Emily Moss, and VP of Diversity and Inclusion Antonio Garcia.
And thank you to panelists Christopher Rudd, Craig Stevenson, Karen MacKay, Nia Easley, and Sharlene King for their participation, insight, and wisdom!
Please reach out to AIGA Chicago to learn more about the event, upcoming programming, Chapter initiatives, and design ethics resources.
