IBM announces the Honorary IBM Design Scholar and its inaugural Program Resident, Dr. Cheryl D. Miller
The Honorary IBM Design Scholar
We’re so excited to announce our new Honorary IBM Design Scholar residency program. The program is designed to recognize a luminary design leader each year who has made a substantial contribution to design as a practice, discipline, cultural, and business force over the course of their career.
The Honorary IBM Design Scholar will collaborate with the global community of designers at the company on a variety of activities and programs to evolve the practice and profession of design in important and new ways. They will represent IBM in the academic, business and cultural communities through speaking engagements, campus visits, media relations, and published thought leadership. Additionally, the Honorary IBM Design Scholar will be available to the designers and design teams at IBM as a mentor, coach, and trusted collaborator. This role will be an annual rotating appointment.
Dr. Cheryl D. Miller, the inaugural recipient
We’re extremely pleased to announce that eminent American designer, 2021 Cooper Hewitt National Design Award recipient, and 2021 AIGA Medalist, Dr. Cheryl D. Miller will serve as the inaugural Honorary IBM Design Scholar for a one year term beginning immediately.
Dr. Miller has a storied career filled with delivering world class design to hundreds of agency clients, owning and growing her own business enterprises, and most notably, serving as a culture critic… observing the intricate connections between race, design, and the American ethic. It is through this life’s work that she has developed a unique perspective on the history of design in America, and more specifically, the importance of Black American contributions to this craft. It is with this unique perspective that she encourages us to contemplate and work towards a future that is enriched by these important, even if sometimes uncomfortable, lessons from our past. The depth of her knowledge is only equalled by the optimism in her work.
Dr. Miller is an American graphic designer, Christian minister, writer, artist, theologian, and decolonizing historian. She is renowned for her contributions to racial and gender equality in the design industry. As a lifelong artist, activist, and advocate, she has pioneered many efforts, including starting one of the first Black woman owned design firms in the United States.
Dr. Miller will focus primarily on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the design industry, and her work will align closely with the IBM Racial Equity in Design initiative through a variety of targeted engagements and activities.
Learn more about Dr. Miller through her recent conversation on the It’s About Time podcast, and her biography.
Join us as we celebrate!
Be sure to check out the replay of Dr. Miller’s welcome event from September 27, 2021, hosted by Katrina Alcorn, GM of Design at IBM, and Nigel Prentice, Design Director for Digital Growth and Commerce at IBM.
This would not have been possible without the help of Phil Gilbert, Teresa Yoo, Doug Powell, Karel Vredenburg, Danielle Jenkins, Andrea Barbuto, Jessica Tremblay, and the whole Racial Equity in Design team. Thank you for your time, support, and passion.
