Founder/Art Director, Design Choice Studio, Burlington VT

I am a graphic designer, art director, design educator, and founder of Design Choice Studio. My design studio and practice is devoted to advocacy and action. I use design as a key tool for turning progressive ideas into social and sustainable change. I founded Design Choice in 2016 with a clear mission: to unapologetically focus on women’s causes and social justice, and to support and uplift underrepresented designers. That mission felt urgent then, and it feels even more needed today.

One way Design Choice serves that goal is by being a collaborative studio. I build project-specific teams that share access to opportunity and bring together specialized talent (queer web developers, women hand letterers, BIPOC photographers) to create meaningful, impactful work. These collaborations don’t stop with the creative team, they include the clients — we’re not just working for them, we’re working with them — to create important change in our communities.

My belief in lifelong learning and open access to education led me out of the studio and into local neighborhoods by serving on communications committees with and developing design workshops for community activists. Eventually it led me to Saint Michael’s College, where I now teach and mentor the next generation of socially conscious designers (while continuing to lead by example at Design Choice).

Tell us how and why you became involved in socially responsible communications, why design can be an especially effective tool for this goal, and, if you wish, give us an example of a project of which you are proud?

Everything is designed. And as designers, we have the opportunity to (and I’d argue the imperative to) reimagine the world around us. My commitment to to advocacy and action began when I was ten, at the first protest my mother took me to: a pro-abortion rally in Washington, DC. Playing an active role in democracy had lasting impact and established my dedication to social engagement. And lead to my career starting in political communications—using design to influence the political makeup of our country. That first protest also informed my current design practice which is firmly and loudly pro-abortion. I actively support multiple organizations working to secure access to abortion care. My understanding of social movements continues to grow as I serve, support, and collaborate with my communities.

One of Design Choice’s first projects was serving as creative director for the March for Racial Justice, which mobilized 25,000 marchers in DC (organizing community actions is a skill that continues to be integral). Through design I have brought local issues to the forefront, fought for gender and reproductive rights, empowered and celebrated trans and non-binary youth, amplified calls for racial justice, and made sustainable energy solutions accessible for all.

Given the confluence of events and challenges our society now faces, does this moment in time present any special opportunities, urgencies, obstacles to designing for good?

Progressive ideas and values are more important than ever. But. Great ideas aren’t enough — design turns those ideas into social and political change. Great design calls someone into action; it helps us connect, educate, empathize, and engage. When knowledge, information, and communication are under attack, democracy suffers. Our democracy was built with people in mind; designers can help everyday people dig into it. We can design avenues for sharing knowledge and taking action; create work that informs and moves people to act.