Special Edition: Building Diverse Design Teams, Part 1

Special Edition: Building Diverse Design Teams, Part 1

From This Is A Prototype by Doug Powell

September 18, 2025 · 45 min · Season 3 · Episode 1

About this episode

Doug Powell hosts a discussion on building diverse design teams with industry leaders and educators.

On August 28, I hosted a webinar on Building Diverse Design Teams in which I spoke to some of the top leaders in design about the importance of building a more diverse, equitable and representative profession—and what we as individual leaders can do to make that happen. The event was also a fundraiser for an organization called Diversify by Design , and their program DESIGN=, which provides design curriculum kits, teacher training, mentorship, and career guidance to middle- and high-school classrooms in marginalized communities. My co-host for the event was design leader, educator, author, and tv presenter, Kevin Bethune. In part one of this two-part episode, Kevin and I are joined by Oen Hammonds, Shawn Williams, and Ellen McGirt, and we also heard from teachers who are working with the DESIGN= curriculum kits in their classroom. In part two—dropping next week—we are joined by Tysonn Betts, Omari Souza, and Debbie Millman. Doug Powell is an award-winning designer and executive design leader with more than 30 years of experience in a wide range of design disciplines. Learn more about Doug's practice as a consultant, educator, and coach at his website dougpowell.design .

People in this episode

Host: Doug Powell

Guests: Kevin Bethune, Oen Hammonds, Shawn Williams, Ellen McGirt

Topics covered

  • diversity in design
  • design education
  • equity in design
  • leadership in design
  • fundraising for education

Keywords

  • diverse design teams
  • design curriculum
  • mentorship
  • career guidance
  • marginalized communities

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Diversify by Design, DESIGN=

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