“Yes, And: A Personal Practice in Community-Centered Design” is an introspective examination of the designer’s role when working within traditional institutions of power, particularly city government. If designers are facilitators of process, how do their own practices of equity, justice, and liberation show up to ultimately shape or shift our systems (of oppression)? How can we ensure that our communities are thoughtfully approached, meaningfully engaged, and actually benefit from the work? By investigating the tensions between institutional and community-based practice, designers can use this reflective series of prompts to strengthen and shift their work to create more desirable processes, and thereby futures.
Jenny Lin
Jenny grew up in Cupertino, CA, and currently lives in sunny Los Angeles, CA. She has always had a passion for understanding people. Whether it’s about behavior, genetics, or attitudes, there is a driving curiosity in her that seeks to answer why we are the way we are. This curiosity is built into who she is, and throughout her years, has translated into what she does. From being an artist, a UX designer, to a community organizer, her mission has always been to understand ways that help us connect, discover, and lead better lives.
She comes to DSI with interest in building intentionality and curiosity in everything we do. Whether it’s art, design, community building, or social change, she believes the world would be a better place if we just approached things with a little more empathy and understanding. Her previous experience in UX design allows her to apply human-centered design strategies to complex enterprise software and dated business practices, allowing her to create tangible products that put people first.