It Goes Without Saying

photo by Lan Nguyen @iamlanimal via Unsplash

As designers, we are acutely aware of systemic injustices. Everything man-made that you see and interact with was designed by people who are inherently flawed and who, both unintentionally and intentionally, project their own lived experiences and biases onto the systems, products, and structures they design. And because white bodies still comprise the majority of leadership positions, it’s inevitable that biases of design favor those of the white experience. As long as that is the case, the systems in place cannot benefit everyone equally.

We at Workshop have certainly benefited from our societal privileges and advantages. And we recognize that, with our knowledge and skill set, we have a responsibility to dismantle existing inequitable power structures and build a better world for everyone. While design has been part of the problem, it can also be part of the solution. We believe design should be a collaborative practice outside the office as much as in it. We work with individuals, neighborhoods and communities to not only meet their design needs but to also educate them about the development process. By fostering a culture of stewardship in which design and development happens with neighborhoods rather than to them, we hope to empower individuals and neighborhoods to advocate for more inclusive and equitable development in Chattanooga.

We realize that we have A LOT to learn, a long way to go, and that change will take a collective effort, which is why we stand behind the Black Lives Matter movement as well as the local, I Can’t Breathe Chattanooga and Concerned Citizens for Justice movements (each of which has different agendas). Protest is a rational response when the system of justice is deeply unfair. Given that protest is built into our American society and democratic process, it is a patriotic duty when the system is broken. So we lift up protesters everywhere, stand with them, and support their demands for change because changes that benefit the most disadvantaged and marginalized of our communities benefit everyone. We wish we lived in a time in which it went without saying, and, until that day, it must be said every day: Black Lives Matter.