DJN Member Feature: Kirsten George

Kirsten George

Interior Designer and Educator

Lenape / Philadelphia, PA, USA

SHE/HER

“To me, design justice means understanding that every person has valuable insight and knowledge that not only deserves to be heard, but needs to be in order for successful design to be possible.”

How does design justice show up in your life? 

Learning about and engaging with design justice has helped me expand my understanding of design, especially in the context of the built environment. I think as designers, it is easy to get caught up in the small details of a design project and maintain a narrow focus. A particular space can be designed in a way that pays close attention to addressing important problems, but the industry as a whole still operates in extremely harmful ways. Design justice reminds me to keep my perspective wide for this reason.

I have been especially grateful in the ways that design justice has been grounding in the ways that I frame design for interior design students as an educator. It is wonderful to see students dreaming up endless possibilities.

What are you working on right now?

Within the context of DJN, I am collaborating with a few folks from our node on a project that aims to create a space for youth to learn about and interact with design justice. We are still in the planning stages of this project, but are planning to host a virtual workshop and co-create a zine later this year. I have spent the past 4 years co-organizing a community garden in my neighborhood called Mercy Emily Edible Park, which was originally created as a part of the Philly Food Forests movement over ten years ago. Food insecurity is a very serious problem in Philly. Each season, we meet with gardeners, neighbors, and local organizations like Neighborhood Gardens Trust to reassess the community garden model and determine what we can do to better serve the neighborhood that season. Once it feels safe to do so, we are hoping to begin holding educational opportunities in the garden that range from culturally-relevant, seasonal recipe ideas to tips on growing fresh food in limited space or light.

Website: kirstengeorge.com
Instagram: kirstenegeorge

These images show a part of the planning process we use each season. After collaboratively brainstorming ideas for what to change, add, or remove from our space, I build out 3D models to give us a visual idea of what ideas might work best or need reimagining.

Would you be willing to share your experiences with the Design Justice Network? There are no prerequisites (including a traditional design background), and past stories have featured members working in a variety of fields such as social work, community organizing, and handicrafts. We make the process easy for you (no writing involved!) and will only share what/how you consent for us to. We are particularly interested in hearing from members outside of Europe and the North American East Coast. If you have questions or interests, please contact lydiahooper@gmail.com.