WLP Alumni Launch Digital Arts Education Program
WLP Arts & Culture Cohort Alums, Samantha Carpenter, Katie Loos and Katie Sigety have founded a digital arts education program called Girlz by Design.
Let’s talk representation in the design industry
According to the 2019 AIGA Design Census, only 3% of designers in the U.S. identified as Black or African American while the overwhelming majority (71%) of design professionals identified as white. And while womxn account for more than half of the design industry, they hold only 11% of leadership positions. For Black womxn and womxn of color, representation is barely a fraction of that number.
(We highly recommend looking into the work of Where Are the Black Designers? to find a detailed collection of resources on this issue.)
Access to design education early on is not easily accessible to students lacking the financial privilege of private classes or substantial resources in their school. While many private high schools implement digital design programs, design education is not offered in most public high schools, typically due to a lack of funding.
This discrepancy is especially apparent for high schools where the majority of students are students of color. By denying Black and Brown students an early exposure to digital arts and education, they are further disempowered to pursue digital arts in their education and careers.
Girlz by Design aims to change that narrative in DC by working directly with DC schools with the greatest potential.
Where we began
In the Summer of 2020, we envisioned an opportunity to bridge the digital arts gap in traditional high school arts curriculums by bringing design experts and project-based learning to the virtual classroom. We channeled our collective experience as alumni of the WLP Arts & Culture cohort, drawing on our insights from the speaker series, mentorship program and the lasting community we’ve built.
During our undergraduate careers, our studies focused on graphic design, fine arts, art history, and human services and social justice. While all of us bring different backgrounds within the design field, we are united in our passion for community-led, accessible, and effective arts education. From school outreach and nonprofit management, to curriculum development and scheduling speakers, we apply invaluable skills we’ve gained from our time at GW.
Today, we’re entering our second semester as a virtual arts education program with Anacostia High School (AHS), and Girlz by Design has received its first grant from the Awesome Foundation DC.
Our mission
We offer students a platform to exhibit their creative work, to gain practical career advice from design professionals, and to build a lasting supportive community. Our mission is to empower, motivate, and educate young creatives in high schools across the DMV region by preparing them to succeed in the new digital era.
Last semester, our workshops included discussions on design thinking, UX/UI design, animation and gaming, color theory, and fashion design. The students heard from creative professionals at National Geographic, New Balance, and the Enongo documentary film to build their awareness of various design and tech fields.
At AHS, we work closely with Jeria Carter, their outstanding, dedicated art educator, to best inform our curriculum and programming. Students’ opinions and ideas are at the forefront of our mission. In this way, we are continuously reassessing and transforming our program to meet their individual needs the best we can.
If you are a student interested in volunteering with Girlz by Design in the Spring semester, please visit our website and fill out our volunteer form here. We are excited to meet you.
Stay connected with us on IG! @GirlzbyDesign