BLACK Design Week
Black Design Week is a 4-day design thinking immersion exclusively tailored for educators and grad/PhD education scholars at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). A culturally relevant and supportive environment to learn design mindsets, break away from perfection, innovate student engagement, and create the future through their classrooms.
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Course Featured at Stanford University’s Design Institute (The d.school)
Operating at the intersection of visual expression and freedom of speech, our course, Print on Purpose, investigates social justice movements that leverage print and printed-matter production methods. With the unique background of our teaching team and the learning goals and methodology behind our course, Print on Purpose demonstrates how purposeful expression and thoughtful design pedagogy can amplify student voices and shape compelling storytelling tools. [click the picture]
Personal Accra Photo Essays (Summer 2024) [click the picture]
Creative Direction in Accra, Ghana with Stanford African, African American Studies Department (AAAS)
As Creative Director, I envisioned and shaped a mini-documentary celebrating the vibrant culture, stories, and landscapes of Ghana. This project illuminates the rich narratives of Ghanaian life and the academic collaboration between the University of Ghana, Stanford University's Department of African and African American Studies (DAAAS), and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school). The documentary showcases moments of connection, artistry, and exploration, paired with an instrumental soundtrack that complements its visual storytelling. Richmond “The Cutest Albino,” a talented Ghanaian film student, skillfully led all photography, video work, drone footage, and editing. [click the picture]
No scripts. No prep. Just flipping through a book, dropping the needle on a tape, and bridging it all into a real-world design concept. In this episode, I’m showing LOVE to Dr. Wade Nobles, The Commodores, and Design Work (Experiences).. What to expect: 📖 A selected passage from book from my library. 🎼 Words from a mixtape/casettte out of my own collection. 🏢 Applied to Design Work (systems, experiences, implications). NOTE: You will experience an abrupt stop...PART 2 is on the way. This is 15-Minute Mixtape—where the worlds of literature, music, and design thinking collide.
PRESS PLAY and remix the way you see the world. WANT MORE: 🔗 Watch more episodes: Weekly-ish 🔗 www.themindofmilan.consulting (about me) 🔗 http://mixtapemanifestos.notion.site (about SOME of my work) #15MinuteMixtape #PleaseListenToMyDemo #DesignThinking #DesignWork
The mixTAPE x maniFESTO Workshop + Curriculum
The mixTAPE x maniFESTO is a personal and powerful narrative set against your soundtrack that values and aspirations set to the rhythm of your chosen beats. [click the picture]
(in)VISIBLE Designers: Season 2 w/ Black and Missing Foundation, Derrica Wilson, Natalie Wilson, Aleta Hayes, Felicia Smith, and Cheryl Miller.
[click HERE for the documentary trailer]
State of Black Design (SOBD) 2024 centered on the theme "We the People," emphasizing the collective power of Black designers in shaping the future of design. My workshop, Designing Your Community Mixtape Manifesto, invited participants to explore how design and collaboration could propel their work forward. [click the picture]
What is COMMUNITY? Mini-Documentary
This project centers on community-driven storytelling, blending intentional design with authentic narratives to highlight underrepresented voices. As Creative Director, I led the conceptual and visual design, ensuring every element resonated with purpose and impact. Hilary Mokolo Parek, serving as Director, Filmmaker, and Photographer, brought the vision to life through her unparalleled ability to capture compelling stories with depth and clarity. Together, we’ve crafted a body of work that challenges conventions and amplifies the voices that matter most. [Press PLAY]
What is DESIGN? Mini-Documentary Part 2
The second part of the project expands the narrative, focusing on the transformative power of design and storytelling to build connections and inspire action. As Creative Director, I shaped the overarching vision, while Hilary Mokolo Parek, as Director, Filmmaker, and Photographer, masterfully captured the layers of meaning within each frame. This installment delves deeper into the intersection of purpose and creativity, offering a dynamic perspective that complements and enriches the larger project. [Press PLAY]