Conversation: What Does It Mean To Be a Creative Abolitionist?

Join us in Portland and online on January 26 for a conversation with Angela Medlin and Abibat Durosimi in celebration of The We Design Issue.

Abolition is a verb—a practice. It consists of the actions we take to build safety and to tear down harmful institutions. Amid nationwide uprisings against systems of oppression, individual, institutional, and societal, a new set of demands has been thrust into public consciousness, and designers and artists have answered the call. But this is not new. Artists, designers, and leaders have created new models for centuries—models of safety, creativity, and love—and places to dream beyond these constructs. As Derecka Purnell writes, “abolition is an invitation to find new answers to the problem of harm and to build new ways to prevent harm in the first place.”

CoDesign Collaborative is excited to bring back our popular Design Museum Mornings series with What Does It Mean To Be a Creative Abolitionist on January 26, 2023 in Portland and audio live streamed online. In partnership with PNCA Graphic Design, this living room-style conversation will feature longtime creative abolitionists Angela Medlin and Abibat Durosimi and will be moderated by Jocelyn Rice.

This event coincides with the forthcoming publication of The We Design Issue, which celebrates women, gender-expansive, and BIPOC designers. There will be music, coffee, tea, and treats; please join us!

Special thanks to OnPoint Community Credit Union for their partnership and support and to PNCA Graphic Design for hosting the program.