DESIGN JUSTICE NETWORK

The Design Justice Network is an international community of people and organizations who are committed to rethinking design processes so that they center people who are too often marginalized by design. We work according to a set of principles that were generated and collaboratively edited by our network. Steering Committee members include: Sasha Costanza-Chock, Denise Shante Brown, Una Lee, and staff member, Victoria Barnett.

The Design Justice Network has grown to over a 200 member organization with over 1000 signatories to its principles since it began in 2016. It has self published several publications that are used in design curriculum at several arts institutions including, SVA, RISD, New School, and Vermont College of Fine Arts. Graduate students at these institutions have cited the principles in their thesis work. Institutions such as VCUarts’ Graphic Design Department have incorporated the network’s principles into their curriculum. The Design Justice Network Principles has thousands of signatories internationally. The signature list is growing at an increasing rate. The network has active nodes in Toronto, Singapore, Italy, Spain, and Ireland. Steering committee member Sasha Costanza-Chok published a book entitled “Design Justice, Community Led Practices to Build the World We Need” to be released by MIT Press which won a 2021 PROSE Award Winner, Engineering & Technology Category. Steering Committee member Una Lee has come to VCU’s campus to help me lead a workshop on Monument Ave using the networks principles. Faculty Nontsi Mutiti is part of the network and has helped organize our convening at the Allied media conference. Recently graduated GDES MFA Taylor Stewart also a member before coming to VCU. 

My Role:

I am a founding member of the Design Justice Network. I am part of the four person steering committee which includes, Una Lee, Sasha Costanza-Chock and VIctoria Barnett. The steering committee meets 2-4 times a month and oversees the growth of the network internationally, maintenance and design of the website, and fundraising. We design and facilitate workshops, and present at conferences. My responsibilities include organizing and facilitating workshops/events, managing interns, treasury, and presentations.