UX Matters’ Pabini Gabriel-Petit Gloriously Illustrates The Racism In UX Design

Vivianne Castillo is one of the few Black UX (User Experience Design) superstars in the U.S. African Americans make up 12 percent of the population in the United States, but we make up just 3 percent of designers across all the design disciplines.

Having worked as a counselor and human services worker, Castillo made the pivot to become a UX researcher.

Then she formed HmntyCntrd, an online platform that offers courses and services that focus on inclusive design as well as incorporating what Castillo learned as a counselor, such as empathic behavior, compassion, and vulnerability.

Following the murder of George Floyd in late Spring 2020, a racial reckoning swept the United States and the design industry could no longer ignore the glaring lack of representation of BIPOC folks at all levels, from junior designers to creative directors to agency owners and presidents.

I described how I navigate the mind field of being a Black designer in corporate America in my Medium essay from last year. I have only encountered two black graphic designers in my 20 years of work, and if there are not BIPOC folks at the table from the beginning to the end of all design disciplines, you will come up with tone-deaf marketing campaigns or product names. (DQ just doubled down on the Moo-latte, and went on ahead with it)

Design Thinking and Empathy for The User
As an aspiring UI/UX designer, my…