Getting a seat at the table enables us to increase our level of influence, visibility, and impact within the organization. If we want our table to reflect the influence of the many cultures, ethnicities, generations, and various backgrounds and experience levels of the changing workforce, then we need to open up and change the seats available at the table.

- Shirley Davis,
PhD. CSP

Why Does Diversity in Design Matter?

Creating a diverse and inclusive culture is not just ethically sound, it's good for business. A 2010 McKinsey & Company global survey of 279 companies found that organizations with the largest percentage of women executives earned a 47% higher return on equity than those with no women on the top team. Diversity also fosters innovation. Valuing diverse voices and alternative narratives leads to more authentic collaboration, surfacing ideas that challenge our assumptions and make us think about new solutions and opportunities. It makes organizations more resilient. Successful leadership depends on navigating complexity by listening to multiple perspectives. Diversity and inclusion increase engagement. When giving a voice to divergent sets of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, organizations can expect increased productivity and commitment. It’s not surprising that increasingly, executives are talking about the importance of diverse and inclusive leadership. 

DMI is committed to help organizations create an inclusive an diverse design culture by building a transparent system in which both leaders and employees are engaged and accountable.

How Will DMI Lead?

• DMI will act as a resource for information, a facilitator, and an advocate for Diversity & Inclusion in Design, actively sharing content, tools, research, and expert thought leadership.
  
  
• One of the four annual dmi:Review magazines will be dedicated to Diversity & Inclusion.
  
  
• DMI will recognize both organizations and individuals for their efforts to develop more diverse teams and organizational cultures.
  
  
• DMI has developed the dmi:Diversity in Design Manifesto©. The initiative was launched in May, 2018, at the first DMI conference on Diversity & Inclusion. DMI hosted an executive session with a wide range of stakeholders representing design teams in large organizations, small firms, agencies, education, and community leaders. Under the guidance of Diversity experts Dr. Shirley Davis, CSP, and Patricia Pope, the living document, Called the dmi:Diversity in Design Manifesto was created.
  
  The Manifesto is a living document—it will grow and change in our quest for a better workplace and more opportunities for everyone. We invite you to engage with DMI in this initiative to make our businesses and communities better places in which to work and live.

The dmi:Diversity in Design Manifesto works as a simple set of 6 prompts that you can use to create a more diverse and inclusive culture. They can be addressed in any order that serves you and your organization best.

		BUILD AND PROMOTE THE BUSINESS CASE FOR DIVERSITY & INCLUSION IN DESIGN AND THE WORKPLACE.*   Find resources that support findings that Diversity & Inclusion are good for business.
		ENABLE CULTURE TRANSFORMATION & INSTITUTIONALIZE ACCOUNTABILITY.* Diversity & Inclusion starts at the top. Work with Diversity & Inclusion experts to foster/bring diversity into your organization.
		ENGAGE IN INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP EDUCATION.* Work with Diversity & Inclusion experts to ensure that you/your team understand Inclusive Leadership and that supportive behaviors are embedded in performance goals. Leaders should understand their role in creating an inclusive culture for everyone.   Find a reading list of informative articles from DMI on the subject of Diversity & Inclusion in Design, and Design Research.
		FACILITATE THE ENGAGEMENT OF DIVERSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN CREATIVE CAREERS. Expose and encourage under-served populations to pursue creative fields.   Find a list of programs and organizations that educate, mentor, and sponsor youth in under-served populations to participate in creative careers.
		RECOGNIZE INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP IN DESIGN. Recognize leaders who are making change and achieving results in Diversity & Inclusion.   These individuals and organizations have been recognized for the advancement of Diversity in Design.
		SPONSOR AND ADVANCE DIVERSE LEADERS. Advance women and people of color to top Design Management positions and ensure a diverse population in the career pipeline.   Go here to find DMI’s list of Women & Diverse Pioneers in Design Management.

*DMI strongly recommends that you engage expert help for this initiative.

** This Diversity & Inclusion site is provided to share information from and to our global community only and does not serve as an endorsement of any specific service or consultant.

dmi:Diversity in Design Manifesto Sponsors