Design unmuted is a podcast for folks interested in engaging with social justice and critical perspectives in design, art and all things creative.
Could a park be a home?
Art, architecture and food security: all about “Sustaining Apertures”
Join us as we unpack the stories behind our exhibition; Sustaining Apertures, currently on view at the Or Gallery from March 7 to July 6, 2024. Together Colin and I share all about our collaborative journey and discuss food security in relation to the land, intersectional conversations around environmental justice, place-based design, and architecture in contemporary art. Colin Berg Mbugua is a Kenyan-Canadian artist, researcher, and architectural designer. He holds both a Masters and a Bachelor in Architecture. Mbugua’s practice, Kagvr, founded in 2021, engages multi-disciplinary contexts that draw from traditional architectural practices while engaging experimentation through collaboration and cross-cultural exchange.You can watch a clip of this episode on the designunmuted youtube channel here and follow us on Instagram @design_unmuted
"The Sustaining Apertures artist podcast is co-presented with Design Unmuted, Or Gallery, And-Co Community, and the Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC) . The production of this episode is supported by the Real Estate Foundation of BC( REFBC)- a philanthropic organization working to advance sustainable land use and real estate practices in British Columbia, Canada. They do this by funding projects, connecting people, and sharing knowledge.
Design unmuted trailer
Welcome to the Design unmuted podcast. I Am your host Divine, a landscape designer, artist, public speaker and social critic.
Design unmuted is a podcast that centers BIPOC voices and experiences engaging at the intersection of social justice and critical perspectives in Landscape architecture, design and art.
I started this podcast to create a platform to uplift marginalized voices and share stories that hopefully inspire you to expand your mind and heart. As an advocate for social justice, I engage in conversations on the many ways design and art can help us build equitable and beautiful communities.
If you want to learn more and support this vision, make sure to subscribe and follow me on my website at www.remeshadesign.command on instagram at design_unmuted.
For speaking engagements and design and art project collaborations, please reach out on my website
Thank you for all of you who come back to listen to Design unmuted. Here are some ways to continue showing support:
Support the production of this podcast by being a Patreon member or making a donation
Subscribe to my newsletter and to Design unmuted on your podcast listening app
Write a review about the podcast
Share the podcast with a friend and within your network
Taking your design practice to the streets: the stories of East Van Boulevard Gardens
Taking your design practice to the streets: the stories of East Van Boulevard Gardens
Saba Farmand, a landscape architect, talks about his passionate project that documents the boulevard gardens in East Vancouver and the stories behind the people who take over these public boulevard spaces and turn them into gardens. Through this project, Saba aims to build more urban literacy, environmental education and most importantly putting Landscape architecture into the community. This will be a great inspiration for those who want to have impact in their local communities in simple yet powerful ways. You can watch this episode on the design_unmuted youtube channel here
Follow Saba’s project on instagram at: eastvan_blvd_gardens
Recorded on: August 29th, 2023
The production of this episode is supported by the Real Estate Foundation of BC( REFBC)- a philanthropic organization working to advance sustainable land use and real estate practices in British Columbia, Canada. They do this by funding projects, connecting people, and sharing knowledge.
Engaging spirituality in the design process
I am happy to launch the first conversation of the podcast season TRANSFORMING with Patricia Algara and Jose Leal. In this conversation Patricia and Jose share the ways in which they engage with their design practices in a meaningful way, engaging their spiritual practices into their work as a means to restore balance, connections to the cosmos and to reclaim their own indigeneity and agency. Tune in to learn their about their practices and the ways in which you can connect and engage more meaningfully with your own work.
Patricia Algara is the Principal & Co Founder of Base Landscape Architecture and Founder of With Honey in the Heart . After working for a women’s rights organization on community empowerment projects, she earned a Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture in order to bring together participation and the built environment. Patricia is a shamanic counselor, a frame drummer, a landscape architect, a bee priestess
Jose Leal is Principal, Landscape Architect Director of Native Nation Building Studio at MIG. José has a passion for truth-telling, considers humor to be good medicine. His Mexican and Indigenous heritage lead to Jose’s passion for Indigenous landscape architecture and celebrating how diverse Indigenous people have adapted to their natural environment.
The production of this episode is supported by Anova Furnishings-who is on a mission to enhance landscapes and strengthen communities. They offer a variety of high-quality, functional outdoor site furniture products and styles to fit your project and budget. See more at www.anovafurnishings.com where you can shop online now or search for a local rep.
Thank you for all of you who come back to listen to Design unmuted. Here are some ways to continue showing support:
Support the production of this podcast by being a Patreon member or making a donation
Subscribe to my newsletter and to Design unmuted on your podcast listening app
Write a review about the podcast
Share the podcast with a friend and within your network
Transforming: A new podcast season
This is my first solo episode where I tell you all about this new podcast season called TRANSFORMING. In this short episode, I tell about the reason for this theme and what you can expect over the next few months. I also tell you all about the new direction my Art and Design practice have taken this year and all the things that have kept me busy this year. Tune in to find out more. You can find the projects mentioned on my projects page.Thank you again for joining me!
Thank you for all of you who come back to listen to Design unmuted. Here are some ways to continue showing support:
Support the production of this podcast by being a Patreon member or making a donation
Subscribe to my newsletter and to Design unmuted on your podcast listening app
Write a review about the podcast
Share the podcast with a friend and within your network
Episode 16: Community-based approaches to practicing Landscape Architecture (pt2)
In the second part of our conversation, Dr Diane Jones Allen talks to us about her practice Design Jones LLC, and her work in designing and building grassroots community driven projects. Diane shares the unique ways she has practiced Landscape Architecture in a non corporate way. We talk about the challenges that Black folks face in the profession; from being a student, practicing in academia or in private practice.
In this episode, I also share about my Graduate Thesis project; Bujumbura 2050, where we used an Afrofuturistic approach to design the future of vertical urban spaces in Bujumbura.
Diane is currently working on her upcoming book "The Maroon Landscape: A Cultural Approach to Climate Resiliency" to be published by the MIT Press in 2024.
Tune in to also learn what Maroon landscapes can teach us as we envision a more resilient future.
Dr. Diane Jones Allen is a principal landscape architect of Design Jones, LLC, and Program Director for Landscape Architecture, College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs, at the University of Texas at Arlington.
This episode was originally recorded in December 2020.
Episode 15: About Maroon Landscapes and communities (pt1)
In this first part of our conversation, Dr Diane Jones Allen shares with us about Maroon landscapes; communities that were established by Black communities who during the time of the middle passage during slavery, jumped off ships and freed themselves by moving, hiding and stewarding the swamps. These communities were said to have “marooned” themselves. Tune in to hear the stories of maroon landscapes in symbiotic relationships with black resiliency, coastal resiliency and black imagination through times of slavery, colonization, and liberation. We also discussed the pedagogical failure and opportunity in Landscape Architecture education.
Episode 14: Learning from slime mould to design for equity
In this episode, our guest Ashley Jane Lewis shares her work with Slime Tech Lab in using slim mold to promote equitable distribution of social justice, mutual aid, and wellbeing in local communities. We also discussed the messed up state of tech industry and social media platforms; and how understanding of slime mold behavior could inform the imagination of an alternative practice of intentional coding and community building towards spaces of care.
Episode 13: Afrofuturism and Decolonizing art & Hogwarts houses
In this episode, my guest is Krystal Paraboo; an art historian and curator, community builder, communications specialist and activist. Krystal and I talk about decolonizing art spaces, curatorial activism, afrofuturism and we nerd out a bit on Harry Potter (mostly Krystal). We talk about work, productivity and mental health. Krystal also shares all about the Black Strathcona Resurgence Project which centered Black storytelling through public murals.
Episode 12: A prophetic aesthetic: Truth telling in design
Episode 11: Building a socially responsible design practice
Episode 10: About “Sankofa: African Routes, Canadian Roots”
Episode 9: Vancouver vibes: the good, bad and ugly
On this episode, Uytae and I talk all things Vancouver. Uytae Lee is an urban planner and videographer who is the creative producer and director of About Here.
Episode 8: Freelancing, Agency and Burnout
Three friends, some prosecco, snacks and a conversation about freelancing, freedom, burnout, grief and joy.
Episode 7: Cultural shocks in design practice and place- with Roberta Oramabo
Epsiode 7- Cultural shocks in design practice and place- with Roberta Oramabo
Episode 6: Bringing worlds together through music- with Kiga
On this episode, I am joined by my friend Kiga (Landry Kigabiro), a DJ, producer and all around creative. We talk about his creative journey, his creative process and how the soundtrack of the design unmuted podcast; under the sun, came to be. We also talk about what freedom is. You can find his unique and eclectic mixes @Kuruza on spotify
Episode 5: Dirty little secrets of African wax prints & creative entrepreneurship- with Alethe Kabore
Episode 04: With Sierra Tasi Baker: on happiness and Indigenizing design
Episode 03: Unpacking black landscapes: creative resistance
A note from the Host
If you’re reading this message, I want to start by thanking you for taking the time to share this space with me. I am Divine and I host and produce the Design Unmuted podcast. I am a storyteller, landscape designer, artist, and educator. I started the podcast to share stories that inspire us all to expand our minds and hearts.
As an advocate for social justice, I engage in conversations on the ways design and art can help us build more just and beautiful communities. I don’t shy away from difficult conversations, because there’s always (bad) jokes and laughter around the corner to lift our spirits as we need it.
If you’re about building community, justice and good vibes, join the Design unmuted community and the other folks who chose to move beyond convention and learn critical perspectives of design, art and all things creative.
I am so grateful for you for choosing Design unmuted. If you want me to talk your ear off, drop me a word :).