Deem Journal’s inaugural Symposium is an in-person and online hybrid event bringing together designers, practitioners, and community members to form dialogues around emergent and liberatory directions within design.

Hosted in partnership with the MCA, the Symposium explores how design can draw on diverse perspectives to create more equitable and inclusive communities and futures through the following themes: Dignity, Pedagogy, Equity, and Place. Experience thought-provoking and interactive presentations and conversations both IRL and virtually from intersecting voices across disciplines and generations, with a special reverence for the city of Chicago, which holds this experience for us.

In addition, Deem is organizing a three-day Reference Room to serve as a public gathering space for people to experience some of the reading materials that have inspired our four issues. These books, articles, and essays represent a combination of our research, specific mentions from our pages, and recommendations from contributors. It is our hope not only to provide context and access to educational tools around Deem’s processes and beliefs, but also to create a haven for reflection and repose.

Schedule

10 am | Doors Open

10:30 am | Opening Remarks

10:45 am | Keynote Presentation on Social Practice

Architect and artist Amanda Williams, whose practice employs color theory to probe anti-Black racism, will begin the day with an exploration of the notion of design as a social practice.

12 pm | Panel Discussion on Equitable Community Design in Chicago

Otez Gary alongside Paola D. Aguirre will moderate a conversation on equitable community design in Chicago with Maya Bird-Murphy, and Tonika Lewis Johnson.

2:15 pm | Expansive Practice Presentation on Pedagogy

Focusing on pedagogy, designer and educator Ramon Tejada will speak from his hybrid design/teaching practice which centers collaboration, inclusion, unearthing, and the responsible expansion of design, a practice he has named “puncturing.”

3 pm | Expansive Practice Presentation on Dignity

Annika Hansteen-Izora who explores ways we can create kinder, more fluid generative online worlds in Deem’s Issue Four will explore dignity.

4 pm | Conversation

Pulling from his award-winning research and design practice connecting architecture and identity, Germane Barnes will be in conversation with Toni L. Griffin to discuss place and placemaking. One of Deem’s co-founders, Nu Goteh, will moderate and close out the symposium.