Design Justice Fund
This fund supports design justice initiatives within the College of Design. This includes but is not limited to BIPOC scholarships and justice-centered initiatives.
Design Justice Center
We are currently putting together proposals to support the renovation of space that will house Design Justice initiatives.
Design Justice Pedagogy
We are working to provide time and space to audit courses to intentionally weave anti-racist and the decolonization of design curriculum to provide inclusive learning experiences.
Design Justice Courses
Racism Untaught
Enroll in this Fall course to use design research to re-imagine and design with an anti-oppressive lens and for a collective liberatory future. Students (of all majors) are guided through the Racism Untaught framework to assists them in identifying racialized design challenges and critically analyzing artifacts, systems, and experiences that perpetuate racism, sexism, ableism, and other forms of oppression through anti-racist and anti-oppressive design approaches.
Special Topics in Design Justice
This Design Justice Spring course supports a guest designer who will teach a design justice-centered design course with a wide(r) cultural lens including; disability and racism, Black and Indigenous design history, Design As Protest, etc. The Spring 2023 Course is TBA.
Design Justice Creative Scholars Program
We are currently working to develop a program that supports a pipeline to the design industry that reflects historically underinvested students directly from our communities. Corporate entities will provide mentorship, internships, and courses on our campus within a developed boot camp or certificate program to teach the technical skills of design.
Design Justice Cluster Hire
Much like many universities across North America (See OCAD University, University of California Irvine, North Carolina State University, Stanford, Rhode Island School of Design, and University of Michigan), a significant goal of the College of Design is to provide opportunities for hiring a cluster of faculty that reflect a design justice-centered lens in their work. We have begun our cluster hire search, Fall 2021. More information can be found here.
Your participation—on the departmental, collegiate, and University levels—is integral to improving our campus climate and setting new standards for equity and justice in higher education. Whether you are a student, faculty, or staff member, there are numerous ways for you to get involved.
Earn Your Equity and Diversity Certificate
The Equity and Diversity Certificate helps participants develop tools necessary for advancing equity and diversity in all aspects of their personal and professional lives. It’s free of charge and open to students, faculty, staff, and alumni on all campuses of the University of Minnesota.
Join A Cross-cultural Discussion Group
International Student and Scholar Services is now offering Cross-Cultural Discussion Groups, a unique opportunity to meet other University students from a variety of colleges, majors, and nationalities in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. The Cross-Cultural Discussion Groups are open to all UMN students.
Participate in the Anti-racism Reading Group
Born from the anger and grief sparked by the killing of George Floyd, the Anti-racism Reading Group provides a space for focused conversation around racism and social justice. Hosted by the College of Design Fabrication Shops Director Molly Sanford and Senior Academic Advisor Chris Schlichting, the group meets via Zoom once a month to discuss relevant readings, podcasts, current events, and other forms of media. You can join by reaching out to Molly or Chris to be added to the group email.
