Decolonize, Divest,
& Create
Calling all creatives—product designers, brand designers, coders, creative technologists, writers, content creators, or anyone else who wants to create. You’ll ideate & design an equitable product (an app, website, TikTok account, zine, etc.) based on key divestment and decolonization principles.
This 12-week virtual class is on Tuesdays 6-8pm EST. Scroll down for details. Future classes will take a similar approach. Apply now.
Fall 2023 class is sponsored by DesignStudio New York
Student intros
Class agreements
Discussion of each of our individual understandings of divestment, and what it means to create a product through a divestment lens
Create your own personal definition of divestment
Save this definition somewhere you can easily reference throughout the course as you create your product
Azeez Alli: co-founder of Àròko Cooperative, Former Principal Product Designer at Netflix
Discussion on what divestment principles can look like
Viewing and discussion of products that have been designed through a divestment lens
Gather 2-3 examples of products you’re inspired by that you believe work through the lens of divestment
Taeyoon Choi: Artist, Educator, and Organizer
Brainstorming of product concepts
Continued discussion of divestment principles
Brainstorm 1-3 initial product ideas
Ashley Jane Lewis: Creative Technologist & New Media Artist and Co-founder of Slime Tech Lab
Present initial product concepts to peers and gain feedback
Finalize your product concept and explain the intended audience, their problem, and what needs the product is resolving
George Aye: Co-founder and Director of Innovation at Greater Good Studio
Introduction to prototype creation
Begin prototype of product
Create a first-draft prototype of your product that you can share in class
Johann Diedrick: Artist, Engineer, Musician and Former Director of Engineering at Somewhere Good
Discussion on the role of critique in divestment, the role of dignity, and the responsibility in creating culturally-responsive products
Share your product prototypes and gain initial feedback from peers
Take the feedback you received from class and iterate on your product
Nu Goteh: Co-founder & Creative Director at Deem Journal
Discussion on how white supremacy manifests in design by identifying biases in design and understanding the impact on audiences
Discussion on marginalization and inclusion in design spaces
Group critique on existing products and creative brainstorm on alternatives
Discussion on designing for accessibility
Group critique on student’s products through an accessibility lens
Using the feedback you received from class, iterate on your product experience
A.M. Darke: Artist, Scholar, and Founder of Open Source Afro Hair Library
Share product prototypes and gain peer-to-peer feedback
Discussion on BIPOC-design history, and the importance of contextualizing products in a decolonized context
Create an archive of at least 5 resources that contextualize your product within a wider history of divestment research
Ramon Tejada: Designer, Teacher @ RISD, Creator & Organizer of the Decolonizing Reader
We’ll discuss marketing strategies for sharing your product with the world
You’ll walk away with a clear understanding of who your audience is, and brainstorm creative and authentic ways you can speak to them about your product
Create one piece of content that markets your product’s launch
Brittany Chavez: CEO at Shop Latinx and Our Paradiso
We’ll focus on the importance of a cross-cultural and cross-generational design process
Discussion on the importance of audience feedback, and the necessity of including community input in the iteration process
Mini-workshop: Learn how to refine your product based on audience feedback
Conduct a mini-audience session of your product on at least three different people
Summarize their feedback and synthesize actionable takeaways you can use to better your product
Ayana Zaire Cotton: Founder & Steward at Seeda School
Final critiques on your products
Preparation for product presentation
Client project final round due
Timothy Bardlavens: Director of Product, Product Equity at Adobe, Vice Chair at Creative Reaction Lab, Ex-Meta
Sabrina Meherally: Founder & CEO at Pause and Effect
Silas Munro: Founder of Polymode Studio and Co-creator of BIPOC Design History
Presentation of final products
Group discussion: learning reflections
Future steps of continuing the divestment journey in design
Launch your project!
Van Newman: Creative Strategist, Screenwriter, and Former Head of Product Strategy at Somewhere Good
The only thing we’re serious about is food.
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The only thing we’re serious about is food.
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Monday to Friday :
10 am to 9 pm
Saturday :
10 am to 5 pm
Sunday :
12 pm to 5 pm
