Decolonizing Design Research: Measuring Justice

“Decolonizing Design Research” is a workshop series that explores how research can create spaces and places that reflect values of anti-racism and justice. The dominance of western design aesthetics and research methods is largely invisible to those who were trained in design. As a result, these practices can reinforce existing power structures that are harmful to many. This workshop series will provide a space to understand how to mitigate bias in design research methods and learn about methods used in other disciplines and contexts. 

The fourth and final event in this series explores measuring justice in design research and outcomes. The discussion will focus on understanding current metrics for justice and questioning how equitable they are, providing a place to further explore the actors—who they are and who they should be. We will invite inquiry into questions such as: 

• What are just metrics?
• What do just metrics tell us?
• How are these metrics evaluated?
• Who has the power to define just metrics?

Panelists:
A.L. Hu, RA, AIA, NOMA, EcoDistricts AP, (they/them/theirs), Design Initiatives Manager, Ascendant Neighborhood Development; Rose Fellow, Enterprise Community Partners; Organizer, Design As Protest; Facilitator, Dark Matter University; Member, The Architecture Lobby
Andrea Kretchmer (she/her), Principal, Xenolith Partners 
Matthew Clarke (he/him), Executive Director, Design Trust for Public Space
Taylor Holloway (she/her), NOMA, Core Organizer, Design As Protest; Founder, Public Design Agency; Manager of Programs, Education, & Community Engagement, Prospect New Orleans