Nearly 60 professionals were in attendance for the UX Design for Inclusion event hosted by Digital Diversity Network (DDN) and McCann Worldgroup (MW) on Tuesday, October 30th at the MRM//McCann offices in New York City. The evening included a networking reception and program focused on the importance of diversity and inclusion in the UX and product design fields.
Following welcome remarks from Singleton Beato, Chief Diversity & Engagement Officer, MW and Kedma Pognon Brown, SVP, Operations & Project Management, Zenith & Chair of the DDN Board Directors, MRM//McCann’s Chief Creative Officer & EVP, Sung Chang delivered an overview of the agency’s work, including specific campaigns that are exemplary of their diversity, inclusion and engagement practices.
Chang’s presentation was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Darline Jean, Chief Digital Officer, Essence Communications and featuring:
Whitney Browne, SVP, Group Director, UX Strategy, McCann New York
Peter Gallo, SVP, Director of UX, MRM//McCann
Clarence A. Perera, Executive Director – Digital Product Lead, Consumer Banking, JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Hena Siddiqi, Director of Product Design, AMC Networks
Jaclyn Smith, Senior UX Designer, MRM//McCann
Key takeaways from the conversation included:
Inclusive design is not only ethical. It increases your bottom line.
Ensure that diversity & inclusion are incorporated into your design strategy from the start. You are designing for a broad audience and therefore need to include broad perspectives in the design process.
Recruit talent from different places and with different experiences. Don’t just hire your friends!
Educate more young people about design as a career option.
Promote a work culture that celebrates and embraces diversity and inclusion in all dimensions.
If you are seeking a job in UX Design, ensure that your portfolio tells your story in a way that distinguishes you from the competition.