Transcending Black Realities: The Possibilities of Joy & Imagination

Session type:

Keynote

Presented by:

Julian Thompson

Founder & Design Director, Rooted by Design

Session time:

22 Sep 09:45 — 10:45

Session duration:

60 minutes

About the session

The experiences of many Black communities in the UK are shaped by the realities of challenge, disadvantage and structural inequality - but beyond this, there is a rich resource of joy and imagination, materials from which repair, new services and possibilities can emerge.

In this keynote, Julian will reframe the practice of equity in design, going beyond inclusion, towards centring new dreams for how society works.

About the speaker(s)

Julian Thompson

Julian is a Design Leader and Strategist on a mission to create abundant and bold futures for Black communities. Weaving together his experience in community development, human rights, public policy and design, Julian explores the possibilities for deep and meaningful change.

An early practitioner and thought leader in equity-centered design, Julian has worked and led teams across large public sector and civil society organisations (such as Amnesty International, Citizens Advice and DHSC). He now advises on research and design practices which centres a new way of understanding people, power and progress. He is also a social innovation coach and a guest lecturer on the RCA Service Design Master Course.

With a strong conviction that design had to be done differently, Julian pioneered a niche within the service design industry focused solely on creating a much needed space for marginalised communities to dream, create and importantly lead.

As Founder and Design Director of Rooted, Julian leads a radical Design company, working at the intersection of change, racial equity and imagination - reimagining how we create the future of society.

www.rootedbydesign.co.uk

Julesequity