Last year, when Antionette Carroll, Chair of the AIGA Diversity & Inclusion Task Force, as well as President of AIGA St. Louis, came to Grand Rapids, the country was in the midst of conversations about race and equity.
Now, nearly a year later, the dialogue is still happening, which is one reason why Carroll has been invited to present at Start Garden on Conversation of Design Thinking, Social Innovation, Design Entrepreneurs, & Community Organizing.
Carroll of
Creative Reaction Lab has taken on challenging topics, like “Can Design End Racism?”, to promote a better understanding of what “
demographic diversity and a culture of inclusion” really looks like.
What made the shift possible from 9-5 graphic designer to the big think of diversity and inclusion were the events in Ferguson, MO that exploded next door to St. Louis, where Carroll calls home.
The migration from graphic design did not mean that she was giving up the skills she created but that when redirected to the areas of design thinking, community organizing and social impact design, Carroll was able to help move the needle forward on these modern challenges, taking us closer to a solution.
Carroll’s stop in Grand Rapids should not just be a celebration for those in the design world, but a place where community organizers, neighbors, and even politicians can gather and glean some impactful insights on the power of design to change the world.
Admission: $6.24 (includes service fees)