Association of Leading Visitor Attractions

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15 Mar 2021

Design Museum Everywhere launches diversity training programme

Non profit, 'nomadic' Boston-based museum, Design Museum Everywhere, has launched its Diversity in Action three month training programme designed to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the design industry.

Led by Diana Navarrete-Rackauckas, Design Museum’s director of learning and interpretation, Diversity in Action was created for design professionals across the industry, and aims to provide the tools to examine their work and designs through an equity lens. Over the course of three months, participants join in two half-day virtual sessions supplemented by online community work on how to become better informed on equity in the design field – and how to translate that knowledge into action.

“At Design Museum Everywhere, we fully believe that good design is not possible without equity, diversity, and liberation. With this in mind, we asked ourselves: how do we simultaneously promote this and also lead initiatives?” said Navarrete-Rackauckas.

“Diversity in Action was created to present a solution for individuals and organisations who were looking for the next step in taking decisive action on inequality and the lack of representation in the industry. These sessions aid in providing the time, processes, and resources needed for companies to be successful and support vital industry initiatives and equitable practices.”

The Design Museum is currently running an online exhibition, We Design, which highlights the lack of racial and gender diversity in the design field and celebrates the achievements of people of colour within the industry. Statistics highlighted in the exhibition include the fact that only 2 per cent of architects are Black, while Black women represent only 0.2 per cent of architects, and although 69 per cent of interior designers are women, only 25 per cent of those women hold leadership roles.

The Diversity in Action training course will cover topics including how to create inclusive teams, breaking down the business outcomes of a diverse organisation, how to foster a diverse work environment and culture, ways to improve as a business by prioritising inclusion efforts, and how to give back to local and global communities.

The half-day training sessions consist of “breakout groups, personal and group reflection, dynamic conversations, and a set of self-led deeper learning exercises accompanied by resource sheets and conversation prompts. Participants will be provided with the tools necessary to take action, including digital artifacts created throughout the sessions.”

Virtual training sessions are paired with a physical set of We Design Conversation Cards. Created in tandem with the We Design exhibit, the conversation cards can be used individually, in small groups, or with larger discussion forums. Within the deck, participants will find stories from creatives in a variety of industries, along with statistics and topics of discussion around diversity and equity in design professions. 

Registration for Diversity in Action spring sessions is now live.