Team:

Organizers: Fiona Kenney (MDes HPDM 20), Chelsea Kilburn (MLA I AP 20), Vaissnavi Shukl (MDes HPDM 20), Brittany Giunchigliani (MLA I 21), Tommy Schaperkotter (MArch 20)

In 2020, IWW takes notions of kinship as its focus. In global moments of social and environmental crisis, leaning into and enacting kinship can become a radical act. We seek to check in with each other, to recognize the contributions of those historically rendered invisible by/in the design disciplines, and to celebrate the connections womxn have between and for each other.  Throughout the week of IWW, WiD will focus on the wealth of experiences and knowledge embodied by our community at the GSD and across Harvard, while framing questions that span spatial, temporal, and social difference. How can/does design facilitate connectedness and community building? What work are our colleagues, friends, and inspirations currently undertaking to embody kinship? How can this work be supported by the community and moments of togetherness and introspection?

We additionally aim to further push the idea of kinship to encompass a feeling of responsibility to the environment and other species. Meaningful, thoughtful interactions with the more-than-human are essential to the sustaining of life and the development of a more equitable world, processes which we believe both are and will be affected by design. Bringing together leading designers, activists, carers, and thinkers, this year’s International Womxn’s Week reflects on the successes and futures of kinship, and the progress necessary to facilitate connectedness.