Organizations Uplifting Black Voices in Design, Architecture + More

There’s so much great work currently going on in the fields of design, art, architecture, technology, and beyond that it can be difficult to navigate and find resources for the organizations, causes, and events you’re passionate about. We want to help by highlighting the groups, makers, and designers using their voices to make the world better for everyone, so we’re starting our new column with resources that uplift organizations, events, and directories that center Black voices in design, architecture, and more.

Organizations

Black Design Collective
Black Design Collective is a group of established Black designers in the fashion industry, specializing in ready-to-wear, bespoke, and film designs. Its mission is to support a platform that offers mentorship and helps designers of color develop, produce, and market their designs.

Black Interior Designers Network
Black Interior Designers Network (BIDN) celebrates diversity and African American interior designers. It’s committed to serving as a community resource by uplifting the contributions of designers of color.

Blacks Who Design
Blacks Who Design is on a mission to inspire Black designers in the profession. It highlights and uplifts Black designers and helps people discover diverse talent to add to their team.

National Organization of Minority Architects
National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) is focused on countering the effects of racism in architecture. Its work is rooted in a legacy of activism to create justice and equity in communities of color through outreach, community advocacy, professional development, and design excellence.

Organization of Black Designers
Organization of Black Designers (OBD) is a non-profit that encourages the visibility, empowerment, and interaction of its members and highlights the value that the diverse work and views of Black designers bring to our culture and society.

Design Diversity
Design Diversity promotes people of color in northeast Ohio’s design industry. It works with designers in many fields, including architecture, graphic design, landscape architecture, urban design, and industrial design.

The Black Artists + Designers Guild
The Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG) works to counter the lack of representation of Black designers, artists, and culture in the industry. It uses a combination of collaborations, an online directory, and exhibitions to promote members and provide them with opportunities.

Black Females in Architecture
Black Females in Architecture (BFA) is a network that counters inequality and lack of diversity within the industry by offering shared knowledge, advice, guidance, and access to expand the visibility of Black and Black-mixed heritage women in architecture and built-environment fields.

National Association of Black Women in Construction
National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) is a non-profit that was started to support Black women in the construction industry. It’s set up to help members network and share ideas locally, regionally, and nationally.

BlackSpace
BlackSpace is a group with a mission to realize and create a future where Black people, Black spaces, and Black culture matter and thrive. It’s made up of Black urban planners, architects, artists, activists, and designers who foster Black spaces and events.

Beyond the Built Environment
Beyond the Built Environment works to address inequities in architecture through a holistic platform based around the strategy to engage, elevate, educate, and collaborate.

Design Events

Black in Design Conference
The Black in Design Conference (BiD) is put on by the Harvard University Graduate School of Design African American Student Union. The conference aims to recognize the design contributions of the African diaspora and to inspire conversations on how the design industry can work to challenge institutional barriers.

Directories

The Black Artists + Designers Guild
The Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG) works to counter the lack of representation of Black designers, artists, and culture in the industry. It uses a combination of collaborations, an online directory, and exhibitions to promote members and provide them with opportunities.

People of Craft
People of Craft is a showcase to highlight creatives of color and their work. It includes work from many fields, including design, advertising, tech, illustration, art, and more.