Social justice, by design
Index
“Elevating and celebrating.”
The ASCENT exhibit and programs elevate the voices and work of design justice practitioners, designers, and community members pursuing the creation of equitable experiences in Louisiana.
A celebration of the historical and contemporary narratives surrounding social justice design in the Gulf South, the exhibit and programs will present the projects and partnerships addressing the complex issues of community design, design justice practices, and spatial issues specific to the Louisiana landscape.
With the intention of generating meaningful discussions exploring what has been learned from the challenges, failures, and successes of these socio-spatial endeavors, this platform will answer demands for autonomy, dignity, generational knowledge of design within Louisiana, and the inspire the creation of equitable, just environments in our state and beyond.
ASCENT is a project of NOMA Louisiana, the University of Louisiana-Lafayette School of Architecture and Design and the Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking at Tulane University in New Orleans.
Visit the Exhibit
ASCENT is a hybrid project, with exhibit content and programs accessible both in-person and online. Online content will be uploaded to this page throughout the spring of 2022.
The physical ASCENT exhibit opens January 20, 2022. It is located at the Taylor Warehouse, a facility of the Phyllis M. Taylor Center for Social Innovation and Design Thinking at Tulane University, and is open to visitors for guided tours on selected days during the spring of 2022. High school, college and professional groups, as well as individuals, are encouraged to visit!
Want to set up a visit? Email Omana Douce-McDermott, Graduate Assistant for Design Thinking Programs at the Taylor Center, at odoucemcdermott (at) tulane (dot) edu.
Taylor Warehouse
Suite 4005
Taylor Education Center
612 Andrew Higgins Blvd
New Orleans, LA 70130
Visiting? The Taylor Warehouse is accessible by the #11 Magazine Street bus and the St. Charles streetcar. There is free on-street vehicle parking on the uptown-side of the highway overpass on Camp, Prytania, Clio, Erato, Thalia, and Magazine with a one or two-block walk to the space. There is paid vehicle parking all around the building, including a Premium Parking lot at 928 Camp Street, diagonally across the street.
ASCENT’s first programs ran during the spring and summer of 2022. There were four types of programs:
Porch Talks: Evening programs planned and hosted by the ASCENT team. Each highlights design justice practices associated with a specific theme, connected to rotating exhibit content at the Taylor Warehouse exhibited from the day of that program until the day of the next program. Hosted in-person with small audiences and on Zoom, filmed & posted on NOMA Louisiana Communications’ YouTube channel.
Porch Talk Dates and Details
Thursday, January 20, 2022, 6-8 PM: ‘Rooted: Design Justice in Agricultural Contexts’
Click here to register!
Tuesday, April 26, 2022, 6-8 PM: ‘Carceral Design and Abolitionist Possibility’
Design Thinking Breakfast: Hosted by the Taylor Center’s Design Thinking team. One hour, 9:30-10:30 AM. Informal, introductory events hosted by a practitioner who talks about their journey into and through design thinking & design justice. Hosted either on Zoom or in-person. Participatory; hosts are encouraged to include a creative activity and/or discussion prompt. Read more about DT Breakfast programs here.
Design Thinking Breakfast Dates and Details
Friday, February 25th, 9:30-10:30 AM: Dr. Jelagat Cheruiyot
Dr. Cheruiyot is a Professor of Practice in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Tulane’s School of Science and Engineering. She will be presenting on the work she is involved in and leading a design thinking activity.
Design Thinking Gumbo: Hosted by the Taylor Center’s Design Thinking team. One hour, 11 AM-noon. Practitioners speak about how they incorporate design thinking and design justice practices into their research and teaching, referencing the Design Justice Principles, the Blackspace Manifesto and the Delft Design Guide. Hosted either on Zoom or in-person. Participatory; hosts are encouraged to include an activity modeling how they practice these principles. Read more about DT Gumbo here.
Design Thinking Gumbo Dates and Details:
Friday, Feburary 11,11 AM-noon: Prof. Kiwana McClung
Click here to register!
Kiwana T. McClung is an Associate Professor in the School of Architecture & Design who currently serves as Interim Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
As Interim Chief Diversity Officer, Kiwana is responsible for fostering diversity among students, faculty, and staff, as well as ensuring that underrepresented groups have equal access to educational opportunities and resources.
A graduate of Louisiana State University's School of Architecture and Design, Kiwana is nationally recognized for her research and efforts towards increasing diversity within a school of architecture and curricula.
She was recently recognized by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as their 2021 Eminent Scholar in Leadership and Service, one of the highest honors awarded by UL.
Kiwana serves as the Academic and Research Coordinator for the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Louisiana and advisor to the UL NOMAS chapter.
Exhibit Tours and Audit Days: Events hosted in-person by the Taylor Center’s Design Thinking team at the Taylor Warehouse in the exhibit space, coordinated with UL faculty research team. Practitioners who have supported the exhibit will be given priority to sign up for a 1.5 hour midday timeslot, including a guided exhibit tour and audit session.