About
What is the Design Justice Network and what do its “nodes” do?
The Design Justice Network is a home for people who are committed to embodying and practicing the Design Justice Network Principles. It is a sponsored project of the Allied Media Projects.
Nodes are a key part of a thriving network. Just as in botany, where a node is the part of a plant stem where new leaves emerge, a local node within the Design Justice Network is a space for local members to gather and grow design justice-related projects, ideas, processes, and community. DJN local nodes are generally volunteer-run and community-based, and both nodes and members work to be accountable to the communities they serve through the practice of design justice network principles.
Meet the Co-Organizers
Gaby Tirta (she/her) is a multidisciplinary creative who collaborates with dreamers to build narrative power and challenge oppressive systems. With a background in art direction, creative strategy, and branding, Gaby’s focus is in design and communications consulting in the intersections of racial and climate justice. She practices intercultural communication and trauma-informed care as part of her design and facilitation process, motivated by her experience as a Chinese-Indonesian American immigrant. In her down time, you can find Gaby reading to her two cats in her SE Portland home.
Aria Joughin (they/them) is a designer, researcher, and educator with over a decade of experience developing community-centered programs and educational experiences. Originally from outer SE Portland, they are the founder of the participatory design firm, MakeWith, a founding member of Zebra’s Unite Coop and the Oregon New Economy Project. Embracing a career trajectory that is more mosaic than pathway, Aria finds purpose in working on a range of collaborative projects at the intersection of education, economic development, and the movement for worker and community ownership. When not working, they can be found building things from wood and clay or foraging neighborhood fruit trees.
We, Gaby and Aria, launched Design Justice Portland in January 2023 with the hope of finding and building a local community around the Design Justice Network principles. During the first two events, we asked “In what ways could a local Design Justice community support your work in the world?”
What we heard fell into roughly three categories:
Social Connection & Collective Healing Space
We heard a craving for more casual spaces for connection and commiseration, especially across disciplines. You asked for more socials, happy hours, picnics and potlucks as well as opportunities to get out into the world together for design-focused talks or walks. We also heard a need for dedicated spaces for healing and restoration in the face of the all-too-familiar burnout.
Education & Exploration
We heard an interest in spaces for learning more about the Design Justice principles (and related topics), especially how they have or might be applied in different disciplines. We heard requests for a variety of learning modalities include panels, discussions, workshops, book clubs and shareable resources. Some of you proposed reaching further to bring Design Justice into existing educational institutions and curricula.
Matchmaking & Problem Solving
Finally, we heard that you are interested in connecting with new collaborators across disciplines, experiences and interests. We heard numerous requests to facilitate different kinds of matchmaking and support collective problem-solving through things like creating a community directory, pairing pro-bono labor with local initiatives seeking design help, creating a venue to share asks/offers/announcements, and hosting spaces to co-work or co-create accountability.
We aim to cultivate events and activities that address these needs, while practicing sustainable working habits and self-care.