Who Gets to Design the Future?

Highlights from My Lecture on Inclusive Design for the Copenhagen Institute for Interaction Design.

A highlight at work this year: facilitating a cohort of immigrant, refugee, and small business capital readiness organizations through their first design thinking process. Witnessing their delight as they explored new collaborations and the cross-pollination of services to make an even more significant impact on their clients was inspiring.

It’s a reminder of how vital these connections are — not only for the people they serve but for sustaining our local, national, and global economies. I witnessed this in half a dozen projects we led with completely different audiences.

This experience underscores a central question that guides our work at làmdi: Who gets to design the future? In the post below, I reflect on this question and share key insights from my recent presentation on inclusive design in the age of AI.

It’s a question that seems simple but challenges everything. I first saw the phrase from Sherrell Dorsey as her LinkedIn profile. I recently explored this question at the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design in Bergamo, Italy — diving deep into the roles of accessibility, sustainability, and equity in an increasingly AI-driven world. The experience inspired me, and I wanted to share the key takeaways and action steps that you can adopt to make inclusive, impactful design the norm.

The Role of Inclusive Design in a Tech-Driven World

Design is about far more than appearance — it’s about impact. If we’re building the future, we need to bring everyone along, from all backgrounds and abilities. This is where accessibility and digital inclusion come in. At làmdi, we’ve committed to bridging the digital divide, designing tools and systems that work across cultures, abilities, and contexts. It’s not enough to create solutions that simply work; they must work for everyone.

Action Item: Conduct an accessibility audit for your organization’s products and services. This includes ensuring features like keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility are built into your digital assets. Engage diverse voices in the design process, from ideation to implementation. The future belongs to the designs that bring everyone along.

Sustainability is a Non-Negotiable in Design

In a digital-first world, even our online design choices impact the environment. Sustainability is not a checkbox; it’s a responsibility. Designing with energy efficiency in mind — from opting for minimalist graphics to choosing green web hosting is something I learned from my UX and graphic designer friend Martina Nemcic of Creek & Pine Co. These seemingly small decisions reduce energy consumption and uphold our commitment to responsible innovation.

Action Item: Simplify your digital designs where possible. Reduce data-heavy content, avoid auto-playing videos, and select hosting options prioritizing renewable energy. Start small, but embed sustainability in every design choice. Impact starts with intention.

Collaboration as the Foundation of Meaningful Progress

Big problems require diverse solutions, and the best solutions emerge from collaboration. Launching an intelligent modular housing company focusing on affordable housing projects is a testament to the power of cross-sector partnerships. Tackling issues like affordable, accessible housing requires strong coalitions — of elected officials, investors, community partners, and beyond. Building trust and alignment in these relationships has been essential.

There’s a great recent article on the hiring of Chris Lehane to lead Open AI’s lobbying efforts in the New Yorker and the prevalence of Silicon Valley’s involvement in politics.

Action Item: Build a coalition beyond typical partnerships. Seek alignment with diverse sectors, build trust early, and prioritize relationship-building. If there’s anything we’ve learned from this election in the U.S., building broad coalitions is essential to success. When diverse collaborators align, the results are more impactful than any solo effort.

Designing the Future with Purpose and People in Mind

Inclusive design isn’t a trend; it’s a commitment. As an immigrant and cancer survivor, the drive for equity and opportunity is personal for me. Every day at làmdi, we ask: Who do we want to design the future with? This question guides our mission and our partnerships from who we subcontract with to the clients we say yes to. To design a future that’s equitable and impactful, we need the right people by our side.

Action Item: Identify collaborators who share your values. Set clear expectations, prioritize equity, and align your decisions with your mission. The future we want is built by the people we choose to work with.

Prioritize Ethical AI and Data Transparency

As AI continues to shape industries and influence decision-making, it’s crucial that we uphold ethical standards. AI should be transparent, respect privacy, and operate without bias. At làmdi, we partner with organizations that prioritize ethical AI, emphasizing transparency in data use, clear consent from data providers, and fairness in algorithmic design. This is not just about trust; it’s about setting a high standard for the future of AI.

Action Item: Implement ethical guidelines for AI use within your organization. Establish a review process to ensure data transparency, fairness, and privacy, and select partners who adhere to these values. A future built on AI must be transparent, fair, and accountable.

Key Takeaways:

1. Rethink Accessibility: Design with a focus on inclusivity and universal access.
2. Prioritize Sustainability: Make eco-conscious choices a part of your design philosophy.
3. Build Collaborative Teams: Bring in diverse perspectives and foster cross-sector partnerships.
4. Design with Intention: Align your mission and values with the partners and solutions you choose.
5. Embrace Ethical AI: Ensure AI practices are transparent, fair, and respectful of privacy.

Action Steps:

• Conduct an accessibility audit of your products.
• Simplify digital design to conserve energy.
• Form cross-sector coalitions early in projects.
• Align your collaborators with your mission.
• Implement ethical guidelines for AI use and data transparency.

The future is built by the people we choose to work with. If you’re passionate about creating a world that is inclusive, sustainable, and just, let’s connect. Together, we can make inclusive design the new standard, creating impact that resonates across communities and generations.

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làmdi is a future-forward consultancy rooted in joy, heritage, and culture. We unlock opportunities — or create them — with management consulting, executive recruiting, and leadership coaching. We do this by advancing funds, resources, and transformative ideas at the intersection of human imagination and rapidly advancing technology. Our focus on human-centric solutions helps clients cultivate growth, resilience, and sustainability that lasts across generations. If you’re looking to create meaningful impact in a tech-driven world while honoring human-centered values, làmdi is ready to partner with you. Let’s build a future that’s inclusive, resilient, and truly transformational, together.

A big thank you to my hosts and collaborators in Bergamo, Italy: Simona Maschi, Damiano Airoldi, Davide Garlini, Alie Rose, and Stefano Terranova.