We can longer find comfort in using words like 'gamification' and 'stickiness' to justify the damage some of the experiences we create are doing to the world. Design ethics applies to all our work, so we will look at three examples that highlight the problem, the steps you can take to improve your ethical design process, and why it needs to be an ongoing investment.

There is so much inspiration in our surroundings that we tend to ignore while we could creatively implement it in our design processes and outcomes. All we need is to just train our eyes to really “see”. Explore the everyday things from a different angle, another perspective.

How do we Re:Design design itself? As a bilingual, Cuban-American graphic designer, Elaine Lopez has experienced the industry's inability to understand and communicate to a wide range of demographics firsthand. Through her practice, Elaine creates graphic design experiences that challenge people to expand their worldview by Making Common. How can we use design to make the experiences and cultures of underrepresented communities more common? As an educator, Elaine empowers students to use graphic design as a medium of self-expression to research and communicate their personal experiences and the nuances of their cultural identities. This methodology provides us with an alternative way to use design to work towards a more just society.

Original visual essay about design and life.

How can we create true diversity in our industries? A vital early step in the process is cultivating educational and creative professional pathways for underrepresented and underestimated communities. Renee Reid discusses how Inneract Project and its partners empower Black, Latinx, and other youth by providing them with opportunities to explore design in their lives and careers.

Musical performance of Chanelle's new song "A Prayer for 2021"

Designers often find themselves in a compromised position: bringing to life a vision that they may not personally believe in. Yet designers have a unique opportunity to take back power. By putting a stake in the ground, Sara Cantor and her team at Greater Good Studio have carved out a niche designing for people-centered social change. In this talk we'll learn from Sara's experience about how to get clear on our purpose and boundaries, and ways to navigate the pitfalls and promises of working with nonprofits to advance equitable and restorative programs and services.

Christine Sun Kim thinks about closed captions a lot. And she let us in on a not-so-well-kept secret: they suck. In "[Closer Captions]," Christine shows us what closed captions could be, in a new story featuring original footage she captured and captioned herself. Produced by Pop-Up Magazine for their Fall 2020 Issue.

In the 20th century, Artist Marcel Duchamp liberated art from the tyranny of the eye. He said, “I was interested in ideas—not merely in visual products.” Duchamp won freedom from the limitations of what he called “retinal” art and imagined that art could be “in service to the mind”. It’s time to do the same for design, to imagine design beyond the limitations of the visual.

A short film by Debbie Millman of Design Matters and filmmaker Hillman Curtis, created with conceptual artist Lawrence Weiner.

What paradigm shifts from the global pandemic can teach us about the future of experiences in a post-covid world? Saying goodbye to the status quo of yesterday isn't just a talking point, but a mandate. How all of our unique experiences can lead us to bolder more resonant outcomes has become the new blueprint for innovation? And it starts with Authenticity.

There’s no arguing that 2020 had a lot of tough moments. But with all the bad, it also brought with it an invitation to Re:Consider many aspects of our lives. You may find yourself at a crossroads in your work-life. This 30-minute workshop will give you an opportunity to Re:Think what your creative career could look like in 2021 and beyond. We’ll go through exercises to help you gather information about yourself, your goals, and what you can bring to the table whether you’re seeking full-time or freelance work. Come ready with a piece of paper and something to write with.

Join the Museum of Craft and Design Visible Transparency Project in a behind-the-scenes look at upcoming exhibition Design By Time, featuring conversation with guest curators Ginger Gregg Duggan and Judy Fox of c2-curatorsquared, a peek into artists' processes, and a look at the mechanics of exhibition layout and design. PLUS, MCD will welcome the exhibition designers behind Design by Time, Lyn Rice and Astrid Lipka (Rice+Lipka Architects), for a conversation regarding exhibition design at large, and Design by Time’s development in particular.

Nowadays, more and more creatives tend to follow the same design techniques, starting and finishing their work in front of their computer. Ignoring all the inspiration from the physical world that could be creatively implemented to the digital one. In this workshop participants will be invited to explore the possibilities of blending the physical and the digital world, exploring new areas and come up with unique design solutions. Everything around us can be inspirational and an object for investigation. This workshop's aim is to help the participants find new sources of inspiration, experiment and explore new areas of design by blending the physical and the digital world, learn new skills and techniques, and broaden their creative thinking.

Creativity Explored artist Joseph “JD” Green will lead blind contour drawing exercises that explore the process of seeing and creating. Green’s session is inspired by his own figure-drawing practice and an interactive pedagogy he developed to lead community art sessions for LinkedIn, Twitter Design, and the DeYoung Museum. No experience required! Participants should have a writing utensil and a paper to draw on. Green will be joined by CE teaching artist Enrique Quintero.

Even though it can seem that we are more connected than ever through social media and video calls, most online interactions can feel transactional and goal-oriented leaving little room for casual connection and intimacy. This workshop will recreate the opportunity to connect with a stranger on a personal level as a way to get back in touch with our humanity. It is meant to be easy, fun, and carefree—no preparation required! Materials needed: Paper, bold writing utensil, camera phone, access to internet.

Get a pro-bono virtual portfolio review, career advice and more from design mentors globally on ADPList. *Limited to 15 spots - first come, first serve!*