DEEM SYMPOSIUM
Designing for Dignity 01:
A Convening of Possibilities
On March 4th, 2023, participants were invited to experience thought-provoking presentations and conversations both IRL and virtually from intersecting voices across disciplines and generations, with a special reverence for the city of Chicago, which held this experience for us.
Explore the programming recaps
Amanda Williams
Architect and artist Amanda Williams, whose practice uses color theory to probe anti-Black racism, opened the day by exploring design as a social practice.
Paola Aguirre Serrano, Maya Bird-Murphy, and Tonika Lewis Johnson, moderated by Otez Gary
A discussion on equitable community design in Chicago.
Ramon Tejada
Designer and educator Ramon Tejada spoke from a hybrid design and teaching practice centered on collaboration, inclusion, unearthing, and the responsible expansion of design, which he calls “puncturing.”
Annika Hansteen-Izora
Hansteen-Izora, whose work in Deem’s Issue Four explores kinder, more fluid, generative online worlds, explored dignity in their presentation.
Germane Barnes and Toni L. Griffin, moderated by Nu Goteh
Barnes shared insights from his research and design practice that connect architecture and identity. Griffin, Professor in Practice of Urban Planning at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, joined him to close the symposium on the theme of place.
Reference
Room
In addition to the March 4th conference, Deem organized a three-day Reference Room to serve as a public gathering space for people to experience some of the reading materials that have inspired our four issues. These books, articles, and essays represented a combination of our research, specific mentions from our pages, and recommendations from contributors. It has been our hope not only to provide context and access to educational tools around Deem’s processes and beliefs, but also to create a haven for reflection and repose.