Isn't it disturbing how an emoji can evoke
a whole story about privilege?

👍🏿 👍🏾 👍🏽 👍🏼 👍🏻 👍

Continuing on from our previous newsletter about power, we're diving straight in the deep end with a look at privilege.

It is a seriously hot topic these days, as many of our biases and beliefs around subjects such as race, gender, sexuality, neurodiversity, and mental health are being examined and deconstructed. The word 'privilege' comes laden with implied meaning about the people who hold it.

And yes, the emoji colour you choose when giving a thumbs up, may say something about your level of privilege and power.

From a design perspective, privilege can be defined as:

The ability to influence a design process due to an unearned advantage based on social position or identity.
(Goodwill, 2021)

Whether we like it or not, it's there, often invisible, until a courageous person (like you?) or two points it out.

So how do we hold the notion of privilege as designers?

Number one is curiosity, both about ourselves and our positions, as well as the wider field in which privilege impacts the design process. Curiosity means asking questions, and being willing to listen to differing points of view, even if they make us uncomfortable. That tension is where change is born.

In practice we can:

Expect that privilege will be lurking somewhere in the background and be willing to bring it into the conversation
Build our own reflexivity - look within, question our motivations, accept what may be true of our own privilege and unconscious influence.
Stay connected to those we are in service of. They may have a vastly different lived experience. Include it. That's how we build a world that works for all.

So, while privilege is a thing, it's not the only thing. It is but one form of power. The more we can understand how privilege is influencing our own and others' approaches, focus, assumptions, and decisions, the more we can make informed choices about how we work and the purity of our impact.

Keep on being...

PS. Next week we'll look at another facet of power: Access and Role Power. That old chestnut... 🌰

PPS. Are you ready to expand your inner growth for outer impact. Check out the this human website for our upcoming facilitated courses: Design Character and Stories We Tell Ourselves. Both courses focus on the inner work that's required to make the impact you want to have in the world. They're fun, deep, and practical. Invest in yourself in services of others...