This one-day event expanded our inclusive design horizons, and connected us with other professionals in the Greater Toronto Area who are embedding diversity and inclusion into their design work.

Reflecting on a packed day of learning and open conversations, our highlights include:

• learning about Mattel’s rationale and approach to developing their new gender neutral doll,
• seeing how Scotiabank is creating more inclusive design communities,
• listening to Ontario’s College of Art and Design’s roadmap to decolonize design.

Our top takeaway:
Inclusivity isn’t about feeling sorry for people.

This blunt quote is from Scotiabank’s Global Enterprise Agile Leader, Dave Dame. His talk “Sorry is not inclusion” still resonates with us.

Dame’s talk centred on his personal story of living with cerebral palsy, and how he’s dealt with inaccessible, non-inclusive spaces throughout his life. From inaccessible washrooms in offices, to technology enabling access to new opportunities, Dave shared the full gamut of experiences.

What made Dame’s talk especially memorable was his powerful reminder that designers can’t solely focus on making spaces compliant with accessibility regulations, he urged us to design in a way that makes spaces delightful and effortless for all.

“What I want to challenge you with is this: When you’re designing things, don’t just make it possible. Make it effortless.”
-Dave Dame, Global Enterprise Agile Leader at Scotiabank

Decolonizing design processes

The Ontario College of Art and Design University’s Faculty of Design Dean, Dori Tunstall presented a talk called ‘Decolonizing Design: How Diversity and Inclusion is Not Enough.’ Filled with personal anecdotes and impactful examples, it gave us a glimpse into how large, multi-faceted organizations like OCAD can move design beyond its exclusion-oriented past. Tunstall used a vivid ‘dancing’ analogy to illustrate how the status-quo approach to diversity and inclusion is not enough. This was a great empathy-inspiring quote from her talk:

“When you ask people to come in—especially diverse peoples—and you ask them to dance, but you ask them to dance to a white, European, male cis, hetero, middle-class, able-bodied, and Christian status quo, it’s genocide to the spirit. So in that way, ‘inclusion’ is not always enough.”

Continuing this analogy, Tunstall suggested a more comprehensive approach to decolonizing design: Ensure that marginalized groups have control over their ‘block party.’ To this end, institutions like OCAD must work to fully involve and be shaped by marginalized people.

Our team also enjoyed hearing from Antonio Garcia, the Founder of Dadwell & Co and the VP of Diversity & Inclusion for AIGA Chicago. Garcia focused on design ethics, and building inclusive communities. We especially appreciated Garcia’s thoughts and anecdotes on being Latinx in design, and creating inclusive spaces at AIGA Chicago.

The Say Yeah team found IDTO to be a great ‘hub’ of professionals working to expand inclusive design in Toronto. There was so much more to gain from hearing from the full roster of speakers and we encourage anyone curious about inclusivity in design to keep an eye out for future events like this.

Are you looking to get started with inclusive design?

Look no further. We’re here to help. And it’s part of our DNA.

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From Dawn Setford’s talk on [Re]connecting, [Re]claiming, and [Re]vitalizing Indigenous Arts & Cultures, to Varun Chandak’s talk on inclusive advocacy, the conference is sure to have a wide range of perspectives and insights on inclusive design strategies.

With speakers from leaders in the space, like Scotiabank, Mattel, and many more, it’s going to be a great opportunity to expand you and your team’s understanding of inclusive design best practices.

The Say Yeah team, including our CEO Lee Dale, are thrilled to be attending the conference at the Globe and Mail Centre on February 12th.

We’re looking forward to connecting with other design practitioners who are innovating in the areas of inclusive and accessible design.

Connect with Lee on Twitter or at lee@sayyeah.com

Our team encourages designers with any level of experience with inclusive design to grab a ticket and learn more from this diverse and knowledgeable group of speakers and attendees. All ticket proceeds from the conference will be donated to the United Way.

We hope to see you at the Inclusive Design Conference on February 12th!

The Say Yeah Team

Featured image art by: Sarah Chung

The post We’re headed to the Inclusive Design Toronto Conference, February 12, 2020 appeared first on Say Yeah!.