Hello again! The Design Changemakers Digest is Back
October 11, 2024 | Read in your browser
After a 7-month personal hiatus, I am back with the latest Design Changemakers Digest!
Where have I been?
As I've mentioned in previous digests, I was dealing with some health issues at the start of the year. Healing is a journey that takes time and space.
Stepping away from this digest and the learning platform I built last year was a way to honor my healing. I've spent that time...
- Serving as convener of a co-design experiment that has now turned now into a co-Design collective (more on that soon!)
- Cultivating community connections in the Inclusive Design Jam
- Working on exciting educational programs on equitable design for values-driven Tech and Retail clients
- Laying the groundwork for the reimagining of Design Changemakers
Where is Design Changemakers going?
The space and time away — as well as being knee deep in community and educational work — has me buzzing with new ideas to better serve all of you aspiring and active changemakers.
From a platform to a gathering place
Design Changemakers evolved as an offshoot of the Inclusive Design Jam community and was meant to serve as a learning destination with tools, courses and events.
But if we are truly to wield the power of design to make positive change in the world happen, conventional learning is not the solution.
We need to have spaces to not only learn in — but to gather, build and play in.
Design Changemakers will thus transform into a gathering place for changemakers to learn and actively co-design liberatory futures.
It'll be designed around four key pillars:
Learn
Conventional learning opportunities to build skills and knowledge on design for positive change.
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Play
Games, card decks and play spaces for changemakers to discover, experiment and apply new practices.
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Gather
Unconventional convenings to connect and mobilize changemakers toward action around a specific theme.
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Build
Co-design collective for community-powered projects that drive actual change forward locally and globally.
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I'm so excited to bring this all to you and will be inviting you soon to co-design with me. You'll see news across all 4 pillars over the coming weeks, most notably our first unconventional convening (i.e. a virtual gathering for changemakers) planned to take place in November.
A redesigned biweekly digest
This digest will be redesigned to strike a balance of critical reflection and practical advice on how to drive positive change in the world with design.
It'll be divided into 3 key sections:
- In Perspective: Personal musings and reflections
- In the Field: Practical tips, learnings and stories from the field
- In the Spotlight: Inspiring people, resources and/or events from within and outside of the Design Changemakers
And it'll be sent regularly every other week (not every 6 months)! We'll officially jump into the new format starting next week.
In addition to the digest, I'll occasionally send out announcements and reminders on what's happening in the Design Changemakers universe, such as new learning opportunities, tools, gatherings and more.
You have the option to stay on the digest and opt out of those announcements. You can manage that at any time in your subscriber profile.
Catch you next week!
Cheers,
Sandra By Design
p.s. Design Changemakers is designed for you — I welcome any and all feedback, ideas and suggestions on the above changes. Don't hesitate to reply or get in touch on LinkedIn.
