If you feel lost and overwhelmed and have been looking for a guide or a little pick me up, this post is for you, and I hope it gives you the clarity and answers you need. Before you continue reading this, I want you to close your eyes and take a slow, deep breath. You have come too far to give up now. I recently started talking to newbies for 30 minutes on weekends and doing design reviews, sharing my knowledge and tricks. It’s my way of giving back and
Tech giant, Microsoft, is venturing into the clothing industry in their latest collaboration with Black designer Gavin Mathieu. The “Hardwear” collection encapsulates a “normcore” aesthetic, which primarily focuses on inner, not outer, value. As a result, the capsule features a range of minimalistic graphic tees and MS jackets, pants, pullovers, and hats. The collection was shot in front of the company’s iconic grassy hill desktop background and embodied the nostalgic start-up sound and wallpaper many users grew to love in the platform’s early days. The clothing brand, launched in partnership
Black-owned digital platform, InterApp, has raised $1.2 million in its pre-seed funding round. The funding round was led by Columbia-based investment firm WP Capital Group, an organization that focuses on emerging technologies for consumer engagement. InterApp Inc., co-founded in 2016 by CEO William Brown, is an image recognition app that aims to make augmented reality (AR) a necessary tool for consumers. Their work, specifically designed for graphic designers, transforms print into interactive AR experiences for consumers to enjoy. The platform transforms print packages and apparel graphics into augmented reality, ultimately transforming
After struggling to connect with top technologists and designers, Ronnie Kwesi Coleman co-founded Meaningful Gigs two years ago. The inspiration drew from Coleman’s desire to specifically connect Black product designers and developers around the world with better job opportunities. Now – the company has raised $6million. The seed round was led by Stage 2 Capital with participation from Rethink Education, Authentic Ventures, Reach Capital, Marla Blow, Zvi Band, and Michele Perry. Stage 2 Capital partner, Mandy Cole told TechCrunch, “With the shortage of highly skilled talent and the increasing need for diverse
WhatsApp announced on Monday that it’s expanding its joinable calls feature to group chats – which means family members will be able to connect with more than one loved one at a time. Joinable calls, which were first introduced in July, allow users to join an ongoing group call after it has begun. But with this latest expansion, users can now call a WhatsApp group and join the call directly from a group chat window. Users will be able to join ongoing calls with your groups anytime, effortlessly, and directly from the chat view
Autumn Adeigbo has gone from a one-woman show to a team of four, increased revenue by 400 percent, and attracted attention from A-list stars including Mindy Kaling, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kerry Washington. A year and a half ago, she raised $1.3 million in investments and set up shop in Los Angeles. Now Adeigbo, who is known for her bright designs and women’s ready-to-wear, just secured funds of nearly $3 million, led by venture capital firm Offline Ventures. This brings her total investments to more than $4 million. Brit Morin, the general
A Black Tiktok coder is going viral today after creating a code to oppose a Texas law banning women from having an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. The law, which has already received backlash from dozens of people in the state, relies on private citizens to sue anyone who helps a woman get an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected. While some have protested or turned to social media to share their frustrations – Sean Black, known as “black_madness21” on the popular social media app, wrote a computer
You’ve likely noticed by now that the world has finally decided to amplify a long, on-going conversation about racism — at least for the moment. In the US, underpinning the headlines about policing and excessive use of force on Black and Brown bodies is the conversation about how systemic power disparities affect the Black community. As a Black, gay man from the South, I live this conversation. As a Black designer, I see my lived experience reflected in the perpetuation and preservation of white supremacy across the design field, both
In the tech industry, less than 5% of the workforce is African-American, and we know the tech sector has a long way to go in fixing diversity issues. The following list is a short intro to just some of the Black product designers who are flourishing in Silicon Valley, the corporate world, and beyond. They are creating incredible experiences, and invaluable products, and are supporting the next generation of designers. Mariam Braimah Mariam is a product designer at Netflix. She is also the founder of Kimoyo Fellowship, a design program teaching the
As a Black designer working in predominately white spaces, I have to think about how I show up in my professional environment. I make sure my tone is friendly. Non-threatening. I edit my speech so that others won’t doubt my intelligence. I am mindful of my brightly colored locs and try to dress in a way that signals I am a professional. I didn’t realize it for a long time, but I designed a different version of my Blackness: a created version to fit into white society. To some extent,
