Inneract Project Bringing Design to Communities
Problem: Designers of color are not well represented in the field of design.
Black and Latino youth are the fastest growing populations in the US, based on 2010 Census data. Therefore, developing early pathways for them will be increasingly important for the national economy.
The African American "Creative Gap" Source: Joel Towers, executive dean of Parsons The New School for Design, New York Equity in Design: Architecture: African American / AAFemale Source: Directory of African American Architects (database sponsored by the Center for the Study of Practice, University of Cincinnati) 14% African Americans at U.S. degreegranting institutions 4% African Americans in art & design schools Total Registered Architects in the US (105,000) Total Licensed African American Architects in the U.S. (1.7%) Total Licensed African American Female Architects in the U.S. (0.3%)
More than ever, we live in a design-driven society where everything from our technology to the food that we consume is a function of design processes.
Yet, most students in the Bay Area have little to no access to high-quality design curriculum in school that will provide them with design awareness, knowledge, or skills.
Underserved students of color have even less access to basic educational opportunities, which makes them more at risk for missing chances to land careers in the creative fields.
Inneract Project empowers underserved minority students through design education that links them to opportunities to explore design in college, career, and life.
FREE!!
Since 2004, we have been carefully creating a pathway to design, beginning in middle school, to educate, foster and develop underserved minority youth within the field of design to become employable adults and/or entrepreneurs.
Partnerships
+ Education + Advocacy + Entrepreneurship
Education Advocacy Entrepreneurship Youth Design Academy (Spring) Middle School students ONLY (16 SF + 16 Eastbay) Basic principles of design (composition, color theory, typography, texture, form) Hands-on training from design professionals. Video Game Academy (Summer) Serves 8-10 High School students A rigorous curriculum of how to design and build video games Learn to market and monetize these games utilizing basic business principles Learning Lab workshops (Year round) Middle and High School 1-2 day workshops Exposure to a variety of design disciplines. Past workshops include: designing chairs out of cardboard, mobile app design, participating in a college design critique, video game design, design research, Adobe Illustrator and a workshop at the Coverse store, typography and sustainability design.
Education Advocacy Entrepreneurship Designed docuseries (online videos) IP-produced online videos that showcase the contributions and impacts of a diverse range of designers across the nation. Public Lectures IP seeks out innovative designers, design directors and CEOs that have created products or systems we use or see regularly to share their knowledge through interactive presentations (lecture + Q&A) Studio Tours Inneract Project sets up tours to local design firms and museums. Tours provide the reality of the career as seen through the working environment, which we believe is a vital part of the design education process. Parent involvement Parents are allowed to take some workshops, lectures and studio tours.
Education Advocacy Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship Program (New!) - create a pipeline for youth to explore their creativity by creating products that matter to them - create early opportunities for financial empowerment - expose the importance of design - leverage personnel resources for stakeholders in the design community
Pathway to design careers Middle School High School College (Summer) Career Youth Design Academy LL Studio Tours Entrepreneurship Program Placement app LL Studio Tours LL Lectures LL Studio Tours Mentorship LL Lectures LL Workshops Design Projects (PAID) LL Workshops Entrepreneurship Program Video Game Design Design Projects (PAID) More Youth Design Academy sessions per year Internships Placement app College prep and career resources Add additional entrepreneurship programs
Current Student Breakdown Student Demographic Breakdown: National Bachelor s College Design Graduate vs. Inneract Project Student Gender Breakdown: National Bachelor s College Design Graduate vs. Inneract Project National Inneract Project Male Female National Inneract Project 66% 34% 53% 47% African American Asian American Hispanic/Latino Caucasian Other
Thank You. facebook: inneractproject twitter: @inneractproject email: maurice@inneractproject.org website: inneractproject.org