The other “White Space”
I just read this article that was linked to from the AIGA Diversity Initiative web site, originally published in Step Inside magazine, called “White Space“. Now for most designers, the term “white space” takes on a very clear meaning, dealing with the amount and proportion of white space allocated within a design. But in this article, “white space” deals with the fact that our industry is still very lacking in diversity and that this is an unsustainable fact that threatens to marginalize our industry as the color and ethnic composition of our nation changes in the 21st century — out of proportion with the rate of change in the design field.
Thoughts?
.chris{}
Posted on May 22nd, 2007 at 3:59 pm. About 'The other “White Space”'.
“The Other White Space” angers me. It’s an insidious argument, and benefits who, exactly? Why does it matter how many of what racial origin are doing or not doing this or that for a living or as a hobby? Who decided that there are not enough non-white designers? From the schools’ perspective diversity initiatives mean additional federal funding. I doubt it means anything more to the schools. It certainly won’t help non-white children and youth to break into this, or any other field. And have they asked these non-white children and youth if they would like to be designers when they grew up?
Also the question: “Does race affect design?” ought not have been asked and all by itself serves to render worthless the race question as posed here. Real design is the end product of the designer, an extension of what and who the designer is: influences, experiences, cultural heritage, and education, to name a few.
Now, will Sports Illustrated run an article on a proposed diversity initiative for the NBA, to encourage more Asian and Hispanic basketball players?
Posted on May 23rd, 2007 at 1:00 am. About 'The other “White Space”'.
Lots of thoughts, arf arf, Chris!
Thanks for bringing this subject to light, I’d come across the article earlier and even linked to it on the Monday Morning Must Read newsletter last year. Just a quick 2 cents here, is that, imho, as not only the US becomes more diverse, but business as such as gone global - where are things made? where are they sold? where are they designed? - designers too really need to get a more global sense of their users. Gone are the days that what you created would be used within the confines of a particular market or segment. And with online stuff, who is to say who will use the website or application or service and from where? I can go on and on but am currently sitting here on my borrowed system in New Delhi and must go offline soon. Thanks again, I’d love to see how this conversation progresses!
Posted on May 24th, 2007 at 1:22 pm. About 'The other “White Space”'.
I agree with the observed trend that there needs to be more diversity in the design professions. In my experience, advertising agencies are almost entirely white-washed, especially as you climb the ladder toward the ’suits’. It is not uncommon to find Korean or other Asian women throughout the ranks of a modern design/advertising agency (at least in New York), but I find that if an agency is lucky enough to have a Black or Latino male on staff, he will most likely be working production somewhere in the bowels of the agency, far away from clients and the spotlight.
There are always exceptions, and I have worked with people to fill the full spectrum of ethnicities, but the trends remain. The strange part of these trends is the great deal of creativity coming from blacks, latinos and other ‘ethnics’, including visual arts. Unfortunately, design training (and education) remain somewhat elusive when faced with the working-class challenges of surviving as an ethnic minority in America. Perhaps this is due to a lack of access to design equipment like cameras, computers, etc. or perhaps its a cultural thing where a career in the commercial arts isn’t even discussed at the family dinner table. There is also the added problem that black males are the most likely demographic to drop out from University, followed closely by Latino males. No degree, no job.
I’m generalising of course, so please don’t misinterperate these observations. There are exceptions to every rule - in fact, I’d like to think I am a living exception to this ‘white space’ trend. The point is that I agree with the trends and agree that we should do whatever we can to evolve as an industry. In the meantime, I hope to use my Puerto Rican heritage to my advantage, and trade on the unique perspectives that I have.
btw, Chris, welcome back to the blogosphere.
Posted on May 28th, 2007 at 12:11 pm. About 'The other “White Space”'.
Hi Gord and thanks for your reply! You wrote:
First of all, I’m not sure why the topic angers you? The article’s author, Terry Lee Stone, made a logical and dispassionate argument based primarily on the facts of our industry’s breakdown as it relates to overall labor force demographic shifts due to occur over the next 25 - 50 years. I’m not sure there is a cause for anger here.
Second, you asked “And have they asked these non-white children and youth if they would like to be designers when they grew up?†Well someone asked me, back in the mid-80’s, and after almost 18 years in the business, I guess my answer back then is pretty obvious.
Back then, I was just another smart, talented kid from the inner city who had never heard of graphic design. Today I’m a creative director for an interactive agency where I mentor and mold younger designers as well as providing guidance for a wide variety of individuals from our parent company across all disciplines.
With the landscape changing so dramatically every six months, our industry desperately needs more talent, from every place we can find it. There simply is not enough out there right now. You also wrote:
Probably wouldn’t need to because the NBA has been aggressively pursuing more diversity within it’s ranks, actively recruiting players from Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, etc. There is not even any comparison of the NBA today vs. the NBA of the era of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. To be sure, some of the better players on NBA rosters — your Tony Parkers, your Boris Diaws, your Yao Mings and your Dirk Nowitzkis — hail from parts of the globe where NBA teams never thought to look for talent.
We would do well to take learn a lesson from them. In our cases, we don’t even have to go as far as the remote corners of the globe. We have untapped talent right in our own backyards. How foolish not to use it, when we are so talent starved as it is?
Posted on May 28th, 2007 at 12:19 pm. About 'The other “White Space”'.
Hey Prescott! Thanks for the always thoughtful posts! Your comments are spot on.
.chris{}