(Immigrant) designer: A more inclusive view of design

Alejandro Largo
Bootcamp

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I recently saw the play The Visitor at The Public Theater in NYC. A funny, gripping and heartbreaking story about human connection through the lens of immigration. The play, which is based on the acclaimed independent film directed by Thomas McCarthy follows a widowed and lonely professor whose life changes when he meets an immigrant couple. Without much in common, they’re able to connect through music and playing the djembe.

I‘ve always been fascinated by the stories of people that made the brave choice of leaving their countries and starting a new life here in the US. Selfishly, hearing these stories help me grapple with my own ever-evolving identity as a Colombian, living in New York half my life and married to an Indian woman. I created Voices Heard a few years back as a way to gather these types of stories and learn from other people’s experiences. And my hope is that these stories resonate with other immigrants (and non-immigrants — if that’s a thing), sparking conversations, leading to more empathy and understanding.

What does this mean for designers?

Despite this being a universally relevant topic to all kinds of people and professions, I want to focus on the effect this has on creative people. As creatives and designers, our job is to make things that have a big impact on other people. Whether it is a visual identity, a digital product or a campaign. I agree with Kristy Tillman (designer and change advocate), when she says:

“Designers are creating culture. We’re creating the interface by which people engage with their futures.”(1)

But how can we create futures that truly represent the diversity of the audiences we’re trying to reach, when this diversity is not equally present in those that create them? And just as important, how can minority designers overcome decades of a predominantly white industry standards and stereotypes?

I recently read Extra Bold: A feminist, inclusive, anti-racist, nonbinary field guide for graphic designers by Ellen Lupton, Farah Kafei, Jennifer Tobias, Josh A. Halstead, Kaleena Sales, Leslie Xia and Valentina Vergara. An illuminating manual that shares a more inclusive view of design.

In it, Kaleena Sales introduces the concept of double-consciousness, first coined by W.E.B Du Bois(2) to explain the inward ‘twoness’ experienced by black people in a white-dominated society. Today, all kinds of minorities continue to experience feeling like an outsider and that nagging voice inside our heads, questioning whether we’re living up to the standards. And this has an effect on the things we design. It hinders expression and creativity, and the ability to go beyond what we’ve learned in school or seen out in the world.

In my case, I’d be lying if I didn’t acknowledge the influence Eurocentric design has had on my work and the effects it’s had on how I dress and behave. But I’ve also noticed how I’ve changed throughout the 17~ years I’ve been in the US. My own identity (once clearly Colombian) has evolved into a more abstract and selective mix, constantly mixing and matching from everything I’ve experienced. But I’m not the only one. I’ve heard similar stories from people inside and outside the design field.

So, what do we do?

I’m definitely not the first one to say that we need more diverse representation in our creative industries at all levels, especially in leadership. And this starts with ensuring we give young designers a more inclusive view of design (read Extra Bold for great insight on initiatives to evolve education) and provide a clear path for minorities to grow and evolve.

It also means acknowledging and confronting biases and stereotypes in the workplace, beyond surface level diversity initiatives. This can be done by both creating a safer and more tolerant space for minorities, as well as creating more accountability for managers and leaders.

And for those of us that are already working, it starts with getting to know ourselves better. A few helpful questions to ask throughout our journeys:

  • How have you changed since you first moved here and started out?
  • What kind of designer/colleague/leader are you and who do you want to be?
  • How have your experiences as an immigrant or outsider shaped your thinking or approach to your work?
  • Have you experienced bias or stereotypes at work? How has that affected your work?

The more we become aware of how our identities are constantly evolving and the effect our lived experiences influence the work we do, the more we can make a case for the role we can play in ensuring the things we design are truly relevant for equally diverse and evolving audiences.

And this case becomes stronger the more we put ourselves out there, using our platforms (regardless of the size) to constantly put content out, sharing our experiences and perspectives on how we think design should evolve as a profession and how these diverse points of views enrich the work we collectively create. This is why I’m writing this. I hope you will join me.

And as we embark on this process, there’s also a great opportunity to champion and celebrate the work of those minority designers already doing great things in our field. And to learn from each other.

To start, here are 4 creatives I’m a big fan of. I’m planning to share a consolidated list in the future. So, please share your favorite designers in the comments.

Paulina Reyes, Instagram

Paulina Reyes

Designer (VP, Creative Director at Bombas)
Website
Instagram

Vocal Type, Instagram

Tré Seals

Designer & Typographer
Founder of Vocal Type Co.
Instagram

Sho Shibuya, Instagram

Sho Shibuya

Artist & Designer
Founder of Placeholder
Instagram

Wael Morcos & Jon Key

Designers
Founders of Morcos Key
Instagram

Sources:

(1) Ellen Lupton, Farah Kafei, Jennifer Tobias, Josh A. Halstead, Kaleena Sales, Leslie Xia and Valentina Vergara, Extra Bold: A feminist, inclusive, anti-racist, nonbinary field guide for graphic designers, Princeton Architectural Press, 2021.
(2) W.E.B Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk, A. C. McClurg & Co., 1903.

Typeface for banner & Voices Heard: Sharp Grotesk

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From idea to product, one lesson at a time. Bootcamp is a collection of resources and opinion pieces about UX, UI, and Product. To submit your story: https://tinyurl.com/bootspub1

Alejandro Largo
Alejandro Largo

Written by Alejandro Largo

📍NYC - Brand & Product | ✏️ Creative Director at Sense | 🚀 Co-founded Travel Trove | ⏱️ Ex Away, Prophet Consulting, Huge, Paddle8

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