Second Masterclass: Design Justice for More Just and Liberating Futures

Elena Silvestrini, a member of the Design Justice Network, led a masterclass on how design can challenge structural inequalities and help build more just and liberating futures. Diving into how design mediates much of our reality and has a significant impact on our lives, yet very few of us participate in design processes. Those who are most affected by design decisions tend to have the least influence on those decisions, which can lead to marginalization and harm. Design justice’s goal is to rethink design processes by centering the voices of those who are marginalized, using collaborative and creative practices, and addressing the deepest challenges facing our communities.

During the interactive session, Silvestrini and the participants explored the theory, history, and practice of design justice, and unpacked and interacted with the network’s 10 principles. The principles center on using design to sustain, heal, and empower communities, prioritizing the impact of design on the community, and viewing change as emergent from a collaborative process. The principles also highlight the importance of sharing design knowledge and tools with communities, working towards sustainable, community-led outcomes, and seeking non-exploitative solutions that reconnect us to the earth and to each other.

The masterclass emphasized the importance of centering marginalized voices in design processes, and viewing the role of the designer as a facilitator rather than an expert. By doing so, we can build more just and liberating futures that are safer, more sustainable, and more equitable. Overall participants explored a vital aspect of the design process and following this session hopefully they will integrate a more just and liberating approach to their process.