Indy Design Agencies Unite for Diversity
On July 21 and August 11, 2021, the AIGA’s Indianapolis chapter hosted a two-part series workshop on Enhancing Cultural Competence. The two-part workshop series, facilitated by Tiesha D. Douglas, set out to build a culturally competent and inclusive design community by helping participants understand Cultural Competence , understanding types of bias, and discussing cultural competence in the workplace.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion remain the most important topics in modern society. Building a culturally competent and inclusive design community contributes to overcoming the many biases in society as design is ever-present in the many forms of media that the public consumes every day.
The workshop was made possible through the sponsorship of some of Indianapolis’ leading design agencies, who united together to provide this valuable training to the design community, seeking those attendees to become champions of equity and inclusion through self-discovery and empowerment.
AIGA Board Member Madison Stevens shares her notes from the event
CEO of Studio Science Steve Pruden said, “Our work should be designed with inclusivity at the core. As an organization, we believe that D/E/I initiatives should be backed by measurable goals. And at Studio Science, we have a 2022 goal that at least 50% of our employees are made up of underrepresented groups.”
“We believe that we can only do our best work when we have diversity of thought, ideas, backgrounds, and opinions. So valuable education, such as this workshop hosted by Tiesha, was something that we were happy to support alongside CVR, PIVOT Marketing, and Artisan Talent.”
Kevin Flynn, President at CVR added, “Awareness and education are the first steps to cultural competence, and this session provided great insight. We started this process at CVR last year, and now it is time to shift from ally to action,” said
“We have funded a scholarship for under-represented students in design, advertising, journalism and public relations through the Central Indiana Community Foundation. We have to create a better pipeline for students of color in this industry.”
“We are committed to addressing bias head-on,” said Melissa Rowe, Head of PR and Events at Pivot Marketing. “That commitment is backed by actionable steps in the way we approach diversity in our workplace, workforce, marketplace, and community. This collaboration with AIGA Indy and Tiesha Douglas provides a meaningful opportunity for growth in those areas.”
Part two of the workshop will take place virtually on Wednesday, August 11th, at 6:30 pm. Secure your ticket via this link.
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CVR is an integrated communications agency that Builds Brands That Matter. Since 1910, CVR has been crafting brand stories for local, national and global clients that connect with consumers to change perceptions and behaviors. Visit cvrindy.com to learn more.
Pivot Marketing is dedicated to meaningful progress. Currently, that looks like reimagining cities, up-ending real estate paradigms, challenging the wine industry, and driving electric vehicle adoption. We work with a wide range of clients who have two things in common: a mission-driven culture and a desire to improve the world around them. Visit pivotmarketing.com to learn more about how we approach branding, national media coverage, consumer research, and creative campaigns.
Artisan Talent is here to make things easier. Our Account Managers and Talent Recruiters are leading the way to successful matches – and it all starts by nurturing relationships. From small agencies to major corporations, our boutique staffing agency is in the business of connecting people. Visit artisantalent.com to learn more.
Studio Science is a design and innovation agency that helps smart businesses deliver experiences that work better. Founded in 1998, Studio Science designs brands, products, and services by understanding what customers need. Visit studioscience.com to learn more.
