October-November 2024 Updates
The holidays are officially upon us! While this can be a joyous time, there can be a lot of challenges too - especially in an election year. In the United States, Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election. No matter where you stand on this, changes in American politics will have a lot of implications for human rights worldwide, the climate crisis, health care, the job market, and more around the world.
At the same time, the job market has continued to be stressful and isolating for many and the change in seasons might affect our moods emotionally and socially. But the old cliché is true: Tomorrow will come, and there is still beauty and hope in the world.
This month’s editorial piece rounds up some small ways to help us move forward.
Prioritize Mental Health
There are many online platforms now designed to provide mental health resources for free or a lower price. Happify offers science-backed games and tools that are based around boosting your mood, and they offer many of their resources for free. Headspace is also offering free resources that include meditation and mental health coaches specifically for those experiencing anxiety around the results for the US election season. For those of you in the States who are considering therapy, both Alma and BetterHelp are great resources to start. They both make it easy to find someone who matches your needs and budget.
Above all, be sure to give yourself the time and care you need.
Volunteer
Getting outside of our homes and comfort zones can offer us the inspiration and perspective we need to understand that we are still able to bring positive change in the world. Are you interested in combating homelessness, supporting LQBTIA rights, or protecting civil liberties? Chances are, there are opportunities to get involved in your area. Volunteer Match is a great way to find nearby opportunities that match your interests.
Plan Ahead
The holidays can be wonderful, but they can also be complicated, especially during an election year. There are a lot of social pressures and obligations that can come up unexpectedly.
Here are some prompts that might be helpful to consider:
- What do the holidays mean for me?
- What traditions are revitalizing for me? Which ones drain me? Why?
- How can I better relate to those I love that think differently from me about values and politics?
- What does connecting with my community mean for me this year?
- What loving boundaries do I need to create for myself around social media and doom scrolling?
Wherever you find yourself in this holiday season, DIA is committed to creating a safe, inclusive community where we can support each other.
We are all in this together.
~ Caroline Craner, DIA Design Guild Staff
#1: DIA Design Guild Update
Last May, we set up DIA Design Guild as a California charity organization. Most recently, we spent the last 6 months working on our story – articulating the story behind our work. It’s one thing to keep doing what we do, but it’s another to see that passion and enthusiasm written out. We’re looking forward to sharing that story with you next month.
#2: DIA Apprenticeship Update
The 2024 DIA Apprenticeship cohort wraps up on Friday, December 6th, as we take a holiday break and prepare for the new year. More than half of our apprentices continue to work with DIA on client projects, and we’re excited to see where their next steps take them.
We’ll be reflecting as a community on ways to improve and help our apprentices thrive. Stay tuned for information about next year’s apprentice program opening!
#3: Apprentices in the Wild
In his recent blog post, “Goodnight, Rave Racer” for The Final Arc, Justin Kim (Cohort 2021) reflects on the therapeutic power of gaming, sharing how his experience with the arcade game Rave Race created meaningful space for reflection and grief after the loss of his father. Justin is a contributing author for The Final Arc, a community of designers and gamers that aims to shine light on projects, people, and topics that tend to have less representation or resources.
#4: Design Resources
Our Design Education Resources database, managed by Julia DeBari since 2022, contains over 400 resources. Whether you're an early-career designer or transitioning professional, you'll find valuable materials to support your growth. Below are some *free* resources that might be worth considering:
A course from Harvard that you can audit for free. Writing is a skill that will make a difference professionally in sharing your design and content decisions. It is also a skill that will help you share your values and perspectives with more confidence, no matter the context.
This is a free course designed to help you build a purpose-driven brand aligned with your social mission. For those of you who are working on your portfolios, this might be a helpful resource in shaping a professional image that aligns with your personal values.
QTBIPOC Design is an organization that works to provide LGBTQ+ designers of color with free and accessible education, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
Storytelling is always going to be a crucial skill in creating a better world. This resource breaks down how the geniuses at Pixar use interdisciplinary techniques to create powerful stories that move people of all ages.
Interested in finding more? See the full list.
#5: World IA Cafe and Taxonomy Talks
The World Information Architecture Café is a speaker series hosted by the World Information Architecture Association (WIAA), supported by the Rutgers Master of Business and Science (MBS) Program. Taxonomy Talk is a Discord community that’s open to anyone interested in taxonomy practices.
Clothing Sizes: A L/34W/EU 50 Problem
Speakers: Laura Horan, Eidvilė Bagdonaitė, Charlie Lapin
Date: Tuesday, November 12 via Zoom
Learn how Vinted's second hand fashion marketplace used Taxonomy and Data Modelling to solve problems that their customers were having and ultimately improve their customer experience.
Interested in speaking?
World IA Cafe is looking for people to speak on their experiences with practical methods, tools and processes or case study analyzes to show information architecture in action. Propose a talk
To keep up with future events, make sure to subscribe to World IA Cafe (Luma).
#6: World IA Day
World Information Architecture Day is the one-day of the year when people come together to talk about information architecture. Speakers share knowledge and ideas that impact UX, architecture, wayfinding, from design to development. Events are put together by local organizers.
WIAD25: Challenges of Change
WIAD25 will officially be held on March 8, 2025. The theme is "Challenges of Change: Adapting Information Architecture for an Evolving World."
Look for a local event being organized near you or take the lead and organize one yourself. This is a great opportunity to get involved and meet other professionals.
Want to work with DIA?
Projects allow our apprentices to work on real-world projects, partner with clients and their stakeholders on their needs and goals, and provide a space for them to learn about the intricacies of understanding how to balance information, needs, and intentions.
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