Reimagining

Black

Futures

We are a strategic design & research studio wholly in service to Black Futures – supporting the transition from challenges of the present, to the possibilities of the future.

We work within and beyond public sector and civil society, to redesign services and reimagine systems that are rooted in the visions and realities of Black communities

Our work

A future society in which Black communities experience abundance, agency and choice is at the heart, not at the fringes of what we do. Our work both provokes and facilitates change within existing systems and services as well as create spaces that imagine beyond the confines of what already exists.

Consultancy

We bring leadership, challenge and coaching to public and civil society clients, to support in meaningfully engage Black and marginalized communities in the creation of new services, solutions and change

Case Study

Project: Reimagining the future of community health

The need: to support a local community develop and prototype ideas to transform a local medical centre into an inclusive space, meeting the communities broader health and wellbeing needs.

Commissioning Partner: Lambeth Clinical Commissioning Group

Partner with us

Futures Lab

Our independent space to cultivate Black imagination and prototype alternative services, systems and realities that are in service to Black abundant futures.

Case Study

Project: Our Joy

The need: Black communities have once again been faced with the realities of racial injustice, resurfaced by the COVID-19 pandemic. From our loss of lives to livelihoods – the disproportionate effects are hard to escape.

Our question: How do we create spaces of joy and connection for Black communities in order to build our collective resilience?

Funding Partner: The National Lottery Community Fund

Support our Equity Lab

Equity Learning Journey

We work with the design organisations & educational institutions committed to embedding equity into their design practice. We offer tailored training and workshops that provoke thought and help build more equitable practices.

Case Study

Project: Equity by Design: Principles + Practice

The need: facilitating a learning journey for a service design agency to broaden their knowledge and practice of taking an equity approach to their work.

Commissioning Partner: dxw

Work with us

Design Community

We are building a vibrant community of existing and future Black designers committed to change for Black communities. We support them to develop their design practice, build connections and use design as their tool for change.

Case Study

Project: Change by Design: Rooted Community Event

The need: Black Designers want to be connected to each other, and work which impacted our communities. This event held at the Africa Centre explored design and inequalities.

Join Our Community

Some of our partners

Our team

We are the home to talented designers, researchers, organisers, strategists and futurists – connected by a vision where Black communities have all we need, to be everything that we are.

Julian Thompson

Founder, Director Design Strategy + Practice

Zaïsha Smith

Director, Strategy + Community

Daniel Okunlola

Delivery + Transformation Lead

Ashley Evans

Senior Design Strategist

Courtney McLean​

Senior Design Strategist

Tyrone Barton-Robie

Design Strategist

Nicola Dillon

Senior Design Strategist

Terrayne Brown

Design Strategist

Daphne Amevenu​

Project Director

Loell Wolfries​

Senior Delivery & Impact Strategist

Benedicta Asamoah-Russell​

Senior Delivery & Impact Strategist

Bola Awogboro

Delivery + Impact Strategist

Kalinda Muloba

Delivery + Impact Strategist

Theresa Morgan

Executive Assisstance

Charmaine Fearon

Studio Experience Manager

Guardians and Advisors

We have a fantastic group of advisors who have been encouraging our vision and sharing their knowledge and skills to strengthen our projects and our organisation. They are tasked with protecting our core, keeping us accountable and on track with the impact we aim to make.

Join our mission​

Join our team: [email protected]

Partner with us: [email protected]

© 2024 Rooted by Design LtD

Company number: 11015622