Session 1: Decolonising: New frontiers in design

Kevin Bethune

Kevin Bethune is the Founder & Chief Creative Officer of dreams • design + life, a "think tank" that delivers design & innovation services using a human-centered approach. Kevin's background spans engineering, business and design in equal proportion over his 20+ year career, positioning him to help brands deliver meaningful innovations to enrich people's lives.

Mark Rutledge

Mark is one of Canada’s design leaders with deep roots and over 40 years of experience designing for Canada’s Indigenous communities and organizations. Such as the Indian Residential School Survivor Society, University of British Columbia and Yukon University. 

Mark is the first Indigenous National President of the Design Professionals of Canada (DesCan) and the first to lead from the Arctic. Through his work with DesCan, he has spoken and participated in workshops and conferences on an international stage where he brings his experience and Indigenous knowledge to a global audience. Mark is a proud Ojibwa from the Little Grand Rapids First Nation in Manitoba who lives and works in Whitehorse, Yukon. 

Rathna Ramanathan

Rathna Ramanathan is a typographer, practice design researcher and academic known for her expertise in intercultural communication, and alternative publishing practices. She is Head of College and Pro-Vice Chancellor, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London and a Reader in Intercultural Communication. For the past twenty years, Rathna has led research-led, intercultural, multi-platform graphic communication design projects primarily in the Global South, all fuelled by a love for, and life-long interest in typography and languages, and a belief in communication as a fundamental human right. As a senior academic, Rathna has led, shaped and delivered dynamic and innovative teaching and learning across taught and research programmes to ensure a vibrant, equitable, and dynamic student experience. She continues to lead and deliver award-winning international communication design projects focused on amplifying marginalised voices.

Natasha Trotman

Natasha Trotman MA(RCA), MCSD, FRSA, FIEDP is an Equalities Designer and Researcher whose practice explores extending the frontiers of knowledge around mental difference, which includes non-typical bodyminds, ways of being and marginalised experiences, in addition to also reframing normative notions of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion. This is done via an intersectional design lens, spanning multi-modal interactions, place-shaping, investigative play, and policy design for varied audiences, participants, and organisations. A fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, a member of the Chartered Society of Designers, and a fellow of the Institute of Equality, Diversity Practitioners. Natasha is currently a Design Expert Specialist for the Design Council, an active committee member of the Royal Society of Arts Decolonizing Design Coalition, and a consultant for Wellcome Collection, one of the Developers for Wellcome Collections Social Justice Curriculum; she also sits on the WCIT Advisory panel and is an artist in residence at Somerset House’s studio 48.

Kateri Saabe Ikwe Phillips

Kateri Saabe Ikwe Phillips was born and raised along the shores of Lake Winnipeg in Hollow Water First Nation, Manitoba. At a young age she began working with youth and taking part in community activities. Kateri Saabe Ikwe is a proud member of the Anisinaabe Nation and member of the Turtle clan. Following with clan tradition she has been an educator for over twelve years and a land and water defender even longer. She is committed to sharing the story of Indigenous people in all she does.

Ken Reimer

Dr. Kenneth (Ken) Reimer is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education (Inclusive Education) at the University of Winnipeg (Canada). Prior to this, he had a twenty-five year career in Canada’s public school system. Dr. Reimer holds a PhD in Education from the University of Manitoba. His primary research interests have focused on inclusive education, school leadership, creativity, educational policy, graduation rates, at-risk learners, and teacher-student connections.

Kesah Princely

Kesah Princely is a Cameroonian Journalist and Disability Advocate. He is the Executive-Director of TWIF NEWS - an online news platform championing disability mainstreaming in Cameroon. He uses his journalism for change to militate for a disability friendly environment. Kesah has coordinated several projects to empower persons with disabilities in Cameroon, with the most recent being the TamTam Leadership Development Programme sponsored by the United States Embassy in Yaounde Cameroon. Implemented by the Hope Social Union for the Visually Impaired, the project seeks to empower 140 youths with disabilities on leadership and modern technology. 

Nida Manzoor

Nida Manzoor is an award-winning genre-comedy writer and director across film and television. Best known for creating, directing and writing the Channel 4 comedy series We Are Lady Parts, Manzoor has received multiple accolades including the BAFTA for Best TV Comedy Writing 2022. 

Manzoor began her film career working as a runner and made her directing debut on the first series of BBC Three’s Enterprice in 2018 and was subsequently awarded a RTS Craft & Design Award for Best Director (Comedy Drama). Following this, in 2019 she directed two episodes of Doctor Who. Manzoor has recently wrapped production on her debut feature film Polite Society, with Working Title and Focus Features. The film is an action-comedy which follows a bolshy school girl and martial artist-in-training who dreams of becoming a world-renowned stunt woman. 

Sanya Manzoor

Sanya Manzoor is a Consciousness Expansion Designer. Her contribution to the collective is as a coach and sound alchemist, inspiring people to meet themselves through self-inquiry sessions, meditation, community dialogues and immersive sound journeys.

Sanya works with communities by creating investigative containers for people to commune and explore different aspects of the human experience.

Her coaching practice focuses on depthful inner work with creatives, leaders and entrepreneurs who are devoted to actualising themselves and re-designing their lives with clarity and courage.

Edmund Lee

Biography coming soon

Sean Donahue

Sean Donahue is principal of Research Centred Design, a Los Angeles based design practice. The former Director of Research for the Humanities & Design Sciences at Art Center College of Design where he is now launching Media Design Matters, a new graduate degree track within Art Centers Graduate Media Design programme. The programmes mission is to develop a critical dialogue around design and social practice. 

Ve Dewey

Ve Dewey is a designer by trade but instinctually a strategic connector for brands, communities, and organisations. With a design-intrapreneur mindset, Ve is driven to harness the potential of design by boldly and holistically envisioning the future of a brand, an organisation, or, an industry. For over 12 years Ve has applied this mindset, from brand design to marketing, whilst working with F500 companies and major brands like Mattel, Adobe, WPP, and BBC.  Currently, Ve is working on research around effective design leadership. And most recently earned an MBA, with distinction, from Central Saint Martins.