How do we diversify the design industry?

Diversity in Design: Led by Herman Miller, 20 American design organisations are joining forces to level the playing field for under-represented communities. Their first step: enabling more Black youth to pursue careers in design. We take a first look at this ambitious initiative that promises to change our industry for the better

- Pei-Ru Keh

Of all the wake-up calls of 2020, the racial awakening that surged in the United States following the murder of George Floyd was unequivocally overdue. Rippling across the world, a wave of social media support prompted individual reckonings, a shared sense of urgency, and a general commitment to do better. But the question of how to achieve long-lasting change remained, for the most part, unanswered.

Racial imbalance, particularly the underrepresentation of the Black community in the American workforce, is staggering. According to statistics from the US Census Bureau, 12 per cent of the US labour force identify as Black, and less than five per cent of designers employed on a full-time basis identify as Black. This includes anyone who listed their profession as commercial and industrial designer, graphic designer, interior designer, landscape architect, urban planner, web designer, architect, or simply, designer.

To say that the racial inequality in the design industries needs to be corrected is an understatement. In June, the Herman Miller Group unveiled the Diversity in Design (DID) collaborative, an initiative pulling in 19 other American design organisations, united in the goal of increasing diversity in the design fields. Sharing the belief that design plays a critical role in creating strong, impactful businesses, DID and its members are committed to forging systemic change, while recognising that this requires longterm strategic action and financial support.