Can the Diversity in Design Collaborative Fix Designs Talent Pipeline?
Become an AD PRO Member Buy now for unlimited access and all of the benefits that only members get to experience. Arrow  Its been just over a year since the death of George Floyd sparked long-overdue conversations about racial justice across nearly every sector of society. The world of design was no exception, as shown by industry analysis conducted by furniture designer and data scientist Jomo Tariku that found that out of 4,417 furniture design collaborations, only 14 were with Black designers. Elsewhere, institutions from Gensler to the Guggenheim have also been forced to grapple with not just the absence of Black designers and creatives within these spaces, but the often unwelcoming climate they face once they get there. In the hope of diversifying the profession, 20 companies representing numerous sectors have banded together. Calling themselves the Diversity in Design (DID) Collaborative, the Herman Millerinitiated effort brings together companies ranging from Adobe to Levi Strauss to Knoll, Inc. to collaborate on projects that can ease the path of Black designers into the industry. DID will also establish a set of shared metrics companies can use to measure success, as well as create an intercompany network for Black designers. According to Mary Stevens, senior vice president of special projects at Herman Miller, DID sprang from a collective realization that such an important undertaking couldnt be done alone. What would that look like? Stevens tells AD PRO. We had a very positive response. People are very anxious to do it, and I think it quite honestly comes from all of us wanting to do something different to make the number [of Black designers] in the industry change.  DID's branding features an array of products created by Black designers. Illustrations by Kelly O'Hara c/o Diversity in Design Collaborative. Beyond bringing companies together, DID will work in conjunction with a Founding Advisory Council consisting of professionals with experience spanning the design sector. Members include DWayne Edwards, founder of Pensole Design Academy; Lesley-Ann Noel, associate director for design thinking for social impact at Tulane University; and Forest Young, chief creative officer at Wolff Olins. Growing the DIDs cohort of Black designers begins with removing obstacles at the awareness, educational, and recruitment stages. More tangibly, that means increasing the potential pool of Black designers by supporting and improving the collegiate institutions where designers are educated and providing access to resources like portfolio assistance and internships to help Black designers get a foot in the door.