Design Week asked us how the design industry can better support the LGBTQIA+ community and our Managing Director Rachel Cook shared her view.
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As part of LGBTQIA+ history month design experts reflect on practical ways the industry can improve and why there’s more work to be done.
Thompson's Managing Director Rachel Cook commented:
"The design industry needs to step it up when it comes to LGBTQIA+ inclusion. It’s not rocket science; it’s just about actually caring enough to start taking those small steps. I’m a business owner, identify as LGBTQIA and I’m a Trustee for LGBT youth charity The Proud Trust, so I can talk from some experience, but I’m still learning.
I believe that actively telling staff/recruits that you’re LGBTQIA+-friendly is essential. Introducing pronouns to email signatures opens the door for the right conversations. Pronouns in meeting introductions is something I got into via the Proud Trust board. It felt a real mouthful at first but it was soon second nature and it helps pave the way for others. Removing gendered toilets and gender markers from application forms are more easy steps.
For great resources, Outvertising has already done the heavy lifting for Adland, creating a list of the 20 most important actions that a business can take to be more LGBTQIA+ inclusive, and it’s 100% adaptable to wider design disciplines."
