SEAD Conference.
Overview.
In 2018, Marion Design Co. collaborated with the University of Indianapolis and Indiana Wesleyan University to host the SEAD, Socially Engaged Art + Design, Indiana Conference. SEAD aims to empower academic institutions housed in rural communities with a practical understanding of how to apply socially engaged arts, design, and placemaking to revitalize their community.
Background.
Social issues constantly arise throughout our communities, and responding to social issues requires empathy. Empathy marks the first stage of the design thinking process, meaning social innovation and design thinking are directly connected. This relationship is fundamental to SEAD. The mission of SEAD is to reveal the power of socially-engaged art and design, and each part of the conference stems from this goal.
The collaborative aspect of SEAD came from a conversation between Marion Design Co.’s founders and Design for Social Impact Professors, Wendy Puffer and Herb Peterson, and Kevin McKelvey, Director of UIndy's Master of Arts in Social Practice Art. When they realized the overlap between their existing programs, the collaboration not only felt natural but imperative.
Objectives.
The following objectives outline our goals for SEAD:
Inspire Innovation
Inspire participants to think innovatively about sustainable, socially-conscious design and to continue the conversation within their own communities.
Empower Designers
Empower designers with experience on the principles of socially-engaged art and design, equipping them with sustainable practices to impact their own communities in meaningful ways.
Share Ideas
Provide a space for creatives to exchange ideas across the state and across disciplines, including art, design, music, theatre, performance, dance, writing, architecture, planning, and more.
Expand Knowledge
Educate participants on community engagement, economic and arts development, socially engaged art, and placemaking design.
Human-centered Design
Design SEAD around its community, students, and participants, intentionally recognizing each person involved. Participants should walk away feeling seen and capable of initiating change in their own community.
Process.
The teams at each location personalized their portion of the conference to fit their style of design and education. Marion Design Co.’s planning process involved students and interns at every turn. Together, we imagined what the day could look like, from check-in to sessions to shared meals. Voicing these possibilities, plans began to fall into place. We also strategized to maximize the time universities would interact with community members and the city itself. Other key elements of the planning process included fundraising, marketing, and branding.
Results.
The inaugural conference occurred on November 16-17, 2018.
The University of Indianapolis hosted the conference on November 16 and focused their session on ways to spark and mobilize community through festivals, parades, games, artist spaces, sculpture, murals, and parks. During this portion of the conference, attendees participated in lectures and tours of spaces actively implementing socially-engaged design.
Marion Design Co. hosted the second day and emphasized design education, design thinking, placemaking, and community art. During this portion of the conference, participants engaged in design thinking sessions, workshops, presentations, and other activities. Marion Design Co. also created the branding, promotional materials, and printed materials for SEAD.
The conference sparked new relationships between colleges, universities, and communities throughout urban and rural parts of Indiana, and these relationships act as a foundation for more SEAD conferences and opportunities for collaboration moving forward.
Beyond the conference, attendees were equipped to go back to their respective communities and continue the conversation long after the two-day event, continuing to think innovatively and employing socially-engaged design thinking in their creative work.
SEAD is designed with room to grow. Our hope is that SEAD will be hosted in more cities around Indiana in the years to come.
If you are interested in hosting SEAD, find more information at seadco.org.