This Convergence marks the formation of a regional network of equity-focused design-centric student groups focused on re-imagining the intersection between identity and design. We hope that this event can be the start of a wide-spread dialogue about the importance of identity-based discourse in the practice and pedagogy of design of the built environment, as well as an opportunity to form a network of equity-focused design-student groups and merge these ongoing conversations in our disciplines.
We hope to seize the opportunity to grow and merge the many individual conversations about gender and other identity-based discrimination happening in our disciplines and in our schools. The SAM list did not tell us anything we did not already know; however, it did spark broad conversation where there had been uneasy silence. The Convergence breaks that silence, and invites us to engage in a collective restructuring of the design disciplines and actively question the nature of design work as it intersects with gender and other personal identities.
Panelists:
Abby Spinak (Lecturer, UP+D, GSD)
Sonja Dumpelmann (Assoc. Prof. of LA, GSD)
Hansy Better Barraza (Professor, Dept. of Arch., RISD; BR+A+CE, Studio Luz Architects)
Sai Balakrishnan (Asst. Prof. of UP, GSD)
Andrea Merrett (PhD Cand., GSAPP; Architexx)
Ang Li (Asst. Prof., Northeastern SoA)
