Summary
Of South Africa’s total population, 92% are people of color. In Design however, it’s less than 9%. As a Cape Colored Designer, this made having an identity that my fellow designers could relate to extremely difficult as I am neither Black nor White. In order to navigate a post-apartheid country, I had to realize that belonging nowhere could mean that I, in fact, could belong everywhere. This talk is about the “Cultural Edge Effect” of my heritage and how that has helped me build Enterprise Design teams and attract and build the diverse design skills of South Africa’s future.
Key Insights
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South Africa’s apartheid history still deeply influences current societal and professional dynamics, including in design.
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Being culturally 'on the edge' or excluded can provide broader perspectives and foster greater inclusivity.
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The edu effect from ecology describes how merging distinct environments enhances diversity and resilience, applicable to cultural and team settings.
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The design industry in South Africa struggles with racial representation, with a significant lack of designers of color in visible roles.
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Hiring challenges often stem from an availability bias and a lack of investment in cultivating diverse talent pipelines.
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Dean’s 'pot plant versus crab' metaphor illustrates different ways individuals grow: dependency on external conditions versus growth through shedding comfort zones and vulnerability.
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Discomfort and vulnerability are essential and natural parts of personal and team growth.
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Cognitive biases like the end of history illusion cause people to underestimate how much future experiences will change them.
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Starting relationships and hiring processes at 'level one' helps acknowledge each person’s full humanity beyond roles or stereotypes.
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Building supportive peer communities is crucial for navigating vulnerability and fostering resilience during growth phases.
Notable Quotes
"Not belonging anywhere meant I had access everywhere."
"You’re trying to pick fruit from a tree that you are yet to plant."
"Try and care less about being certain and more about being effective."
"Society grows great when old people plant trees they know they shall never sit in."
"Don’t be a pot plant, be a crab."
"Pot plants need somebody else to provide nutrients and container for growth, but crabs have to shed their shell to grow larger."
"When crabs shed their shell they are vulnerable and come together in large numbers for protection."
"Our brains want shortcuts; they don’t like infinite categorization, which is why people fear those on the edges."
"Every time you meet someone new or join a new organization, start at level one with them."
"If you want to go fast, you go alone. If you want to go far, you go together."
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