Design Unmuted

In the second part of our conversation, Dr Diane Jones Allen talks to us about her practice Design Jones LLC, and her work in designing and building grassroots community driven projects. Diane shares the unique ways she has practiced Landscape Architecture in a non corporate way. We talk about the challenges that Black folks face in the profession; from being a student, practicing in academia or in private practice.  In this episode, I also share about my  Graduate Thesis project; Bujumbura 2050, where we used an Afrofuturistic approach to design the future of vertical urban spaces in Bujumbura.  Diane is currently working on her upcoming book "The Maroon Landscape: A Cultural Approach to Climate Resiliency" to be published by the MIT Press in 2024. Tune in to also learn what Maroon landscapes can teach us as we envision a more resilient future. Dr. Diane Jones Allen is a principal landscape architect of Design Jones, LLC, and  Program Director for Landscape Architecture, College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs, at the University of Texas at Arlington.  This episode was originally recorded in December 2020.

In this first part of our conversation, Dr Diane Jones Allen shares with us about Maroon landscapes; communities that were established by Black communities who during the time of the middle passage during slavery, jumped off ships and freed themselves by moving, hiding and stewarding the swamps. These communities were said to have “marooned” themselves. Tune in to hear the stories of maroon landscapes in symbiotic relationships with black resiliency, coastal resiliency and black imagination through times of slavery, colonization, and liberation. We also discussed the pedagogical failure and opportunity in Landscape Architecture education.

In this episode, our guest Ashley Jane Lewis shares her work with Slime Tech Lab in using slim mold to promote equitable distribution of social justice, mutual aid, and wellbeing in local communities. We also discussed the messed up state of tech industry and social media platforms; and how understanding of slime mold behavior could inform the imagination of an alternative practice of intentional coding and community building towards spaces of care.

In this episode, my guest is Krystal Paraboo; an art historian and curator, community builder, communications specialist and activist. Krystal and I talk about decolonizing art spaces, curatorial activism, afrofuturism and we nerd out a bit on Harry Potter (mostly Krystal). We talk about work, productivity and mental health. Krystal also shares all about the Black Strathcona Resurgence Project which centered Black storytelling through public murals.

Continuing the conversation from part 1 on how Walter built his design career and creative ethos, this second part, we talk about the importance of making beautiful socially responsible work and the ways in which we ought to find ways to tell the truth in design. He calls this a prophetic aesthetic. We also talk about the pains of living as black people in a world full of racism, his latest art projects, and mostly a lot of laughter. Walter Hood is an award winning designer, artist and the creative director at Hood Design Studio. Hood Design Studio, Inc., is a social art and design practice based in Oakland, California, founded in 1992.

On this episode, Nya shares all about the “SANKOFA: African routes, Canadian roots” exhibition; the first African collection to be led by folks of African descent at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. Nya describes the importance of Curatorial voices as the “Silent hand of how art is being consumed publicly”. We talk about the challenges of art curation and the strategic erasure of Black people in art institutions. We also talk about NFTs , her new project with Google Arts and the growing digital landscape of art.

On this episode, Uytae and I talk all things Vancouver. Uytae Lee is an urban planner and videographer who is the creative producer and director of About Here.

Three friends, some prosecco, snacks and a conversation about freelancing, freedom, burnout, grief and joy.

In this episode, I am joined by Roberta Oramabo, an architect and landscape Architect. She recounts her design training and practice in Nigeria and all the surprising changes she encountered when she moved to Vancouver. We talk about how “sustainability” is conceived of and practiced in different places. We also talk about Nigerian cultural rituals and the ways these are celebrated. Roberta also talks about what she misses most about Nigeria, you wouldn't believe what it is. Tune in to listen to this conversation. Roberta also shares her vision of the future of Lagos.

On this episode, I am joined by my friend Kiga (Landry Kigabiro), a DJ, producer and all around creative. We talk about his creative journey, his creative process and how the soundtrack of the design unmuted podcast; under the sun, came to be. We also talk about what freedom is. You can find his unique and eclectic mixes @Kuruza on Spotify

Episode 5

In this conversation, Sierra Tasi Baker, Lead Design Consultant at Sky Spirit Studio, talks about finding happiness in her identity while living on the unceded territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim speaking peoples of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) (MST) peoples, otherwise known as Vancouver. In exploring the topic of happiness, Sierra reflects on the ways in which spatial designers can have a decolonized design practice. She shares her vision of MST futurism and sovereignty. Sierra has also coined the concept of Etiological Design; a design process which centres Indigenous historical systems of storytelling and memory keeping. Inviting storytelling into the design process allows for designs that can truly reflect and honour the stories and the people who originate from the land.

In this interview, Kofi Bonne, author of Black Landscapes Matter and Professor of Landscape Architecture at NC State University in the College of Design, discusses his experience as a black landscape architect, the importance of making space for the next generation of black landscape architects, and challenging white supremacy in design education. In this conversation, Divine and Kofi explore what constitutes a black landscape, from plantations to black towns, and how culture and identity shapes the landscape. In the context of erasing Black excellence and innovation from the landscape origin story, Kofi calls for a retelling of this history as a first step towards better collective problem solving and consensus building within the field of landscape architecture.

“Black is spatial for me.” Words from Rumbi ZinyembaIn this episode, I am joined by my good friends Rumbi Zinyemba and Petros Kusmu for a discussion centred around Blackness and what it means to be Black. We discuss being Black in the context of Canada and how this differs from being Black in our home countries, the spatiality of structural racism, what a Black utopia might look like, and how much we miss dancing. We also take the time to imagine what spaces might look like if they were made for Black people, a world that is made for us.

Design unmute is a podcast that centers marginalized voices in design, art and all things creative. It is hosted by Divine Ndemeye, a landscape designer and social critic.