Bad Guild Founder Malene Barnett Is Holding the Design Community Accountable
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It was nearly two years ago when ceramicist and designer Malene Barnett took to Instagram to call out the design industry for its lack of diversity. The post went viral, prompting other designers of color to voice similar sentiments and stories of exclusion. Barnett took action and galvanized her peers to found the Black Artists + Designers Guild, a network of creatives whose purpose is to foster community and provide an easy reference for editors, event organizers, and clients looking for black talent. BAD Guild just celebrated its one-year anniversary with a roster that includes some 100 names, including industry icons like Sheila Bridges and Rayman Boozer. “Now,” says Barnett, “there are no excuses” for a lack of diversity in design.
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