In this insightful conversation between Antionette D. Carroll and Marquise Stillwell, they explore the intersection of design, equity, and personal experiences. Marquise, a multi-talented professional, shares his perspectives on design, emphasizing the importance of active listening, language alignment, and the inclusion of diverse voices in the creative process. He highlights the significance of dignity in storytelling and representation and discusses his work in design, film, and journalism.

The conversation deepens as they delve into the concept of equity as a means to create conditions for individuals to excel, stressing the role of contemplation in driving positive change. Both Marquise and Antionette draw from their personal experiences and viewpoints on equity, emphasizing the need for individual accountability and systemic transformation.

Marquise also shares his vision for a world in the year 2123, where love serves as the foundational principle of society, fostering deep respect and understanding among people and their surroundings. He encourages individuals to craft their "constitution of love" as a starting point for catalyzing positive change.

This conversation beautifully weaves together themes of empathy, curiosity, perseverance, and the pursuit of joy as essential elements in the journey toward liberation and a more equitable and inclusive world.

Antionette D. Carroll welcomes Tania Anaissie, a notable figure in the field of equity design and the founder of Beytna Design. Tania shares her background and her passion for integrating design with liberation and justice work, driven by her personal experiences and connections to the healthcare and criminal justice systems. The conversation delves into the challenges of tackling systemic issues and the necessity of adopting a sector-agnostic approach to foster change. They stress the need for a paradigm shift from being heroes to hosts, focusing on the community's expertise and knowledge rather than trying to be solvers of every problem.

Tania explains the principles of Liberatory Design, a collaborative process developed to merge the best aspects of liberation pedagogies with design thinking. She highlights the significance of a community-centric approach, where the process is more about hosting a space for the community to contribute their expertise and less about dictating terms.

Antionette and Tania further discuss the potential pitfalls of power shifting and the importance of sharing power to foster true equity and community development. They underline the need for tangible actions that go beyond theory, emphasizing co-design and collaboration with the community at every stage.

The conversation then explores the nuances of facilitating co-design projects, including the necessity to remove design jargon and create an inviting, inclusive space. Throughout the podcast, both speakers advocate for a more human, empathetic, and inclusive approach to design, emphasizing the vital role of community involvement and co-creation in achieving equitable outcomes.

In this episode of the Reimagining & Redesigning podcast, ​Antionette D. Carroll interviews ​Terresa Moses, an Assistant Professor of ​Graphic Design and Director of ​Design Justice at the ​University of Minnesota. Terresa discusses her work in reimagining and redesigning systems, particularly in the field of education. She emphasizes the importance of centering positionality and community agreements in the classroom, as well as fostering a mentor relationship with students. Terresa also talks about her research on Black liberation in graphic design education and her goal of creating a Black liberatory curriculum. She highlights the need for action-oriented approaches to equity and envisions a future where people value each other's humanity and work towards collective health and liberation.