What You Can See/Be

You cannot be what you cannot see. The design industry has a long history of homogeneity, which is discouraging for student designers from marginalized communities. Lack of representation in design history and education has created a barrier of access for student designers. Design has a diversity problem. Lack of representation and accessibility are keeping underrepresented students from finding a place in the profession.

Curated by NEIU students with the intention of celebrating Chicago designers from marginalized and underrepresented communities, it also acknowledges issues of diversity, inclusion, and belonging within the design community. Each designer is showing work from when they were students juxtaposed with their more recent work. 

This exhibition was developed in partnership with the Chicago Design Archive and the Chicago Design Club.