We were lucky to have Manisha Amin, Shaheen, and Mariane Power leading an engaging conversation on inclusive design at SydDT #104 last night. They each brought so much experience and shared so many great insights.
Manisha talked about what inclusive design is – and isn’t – and why it’s important, Shaheen drilled down on power dynamics and the diversity experience, and Mariane talked about inclusion in action – with a focus on neurodiversity and neuro inclusion. After the three talks, I hosted a panel where they dug into things even more.
The night was full of powerful insights and reframes starting at the strategic level and getting practical with simple mental models and frameworks we can all use to mature our inclusive design practices. Rather than me trying to synthesise my highlights, I recommend watching the video and hearing it directly. It’s all gold.
Again, I want to say a huge thanks to Manisha, Shaheen, and Mazz for generously sharing your wisdom and lived experience. There was a real buzz in the community and it resonated with so many people.
The graphic recording this month was done by Erez Nusem. This initiative is a collaboration with Alan Chen and Diana Ayoub from Sh8peshifters and their Think Visual/Sh8peshifters Morning Meetups community. SydDT is a friendly environment for people to practice their live graphic recording skills.
Thanks to everyone who came along and made it such a fun night. Couldn’t make it or just want to relive it? It’s on Youtube now.
This event was brought to you by Atlassian, Sh8peshifters, and Dynamic4. Another massive thanks to Sarah Stokes for organising Atlassian to be a SydDT sponsor for the first time.
Our next meetup is SydDT #105 on Monday, 14 October at 3:15pm as part of SXSW Sydney. The great news… you DON’T need a SXSW Sydney badge to attend this event. This will be a casual networking session. We’ll be in the Ideas Dome in the middle of Tumbalong Park… right next to the Papa Salt bar and Suntory Minus 196’s giant vending machine. Grab a drink and join us!
Our next normal meetup is SydDT #106/Design Connection #3: State of the Design Nation with Ben Crothers & Nila Rezaei on Wednesday, 6 November at 5:30pm. This event is brought to you by Macquarie Group, Sh8peshifters, and Dynamic4. Grab your ticket!
Meetup Announcement
Thursday, 10 October 2024 @ 6pm. Atlassian, Sydney
We’re lucky to have Manisha Amin, Shaheen, and Mariane Power leading a conversation on inclusive design.
Manisha will talk about what inclusive design is – and isn’t – and the business case for designing for everyone.
Shaheen (an inclusive design specialist) and Mariane (a clinical psychologist and neurodiversity specialist) will explore how inclusive design practices can harness the strengths of cognitively diverse teams to create productive, thriving workplaces.
They’ll draw on practical, evidence-based frameworks and lived experience story-sharing, to help participants gain valuable insights into designing environments where all employees can reach their full potential. Ideal for professionals seeking to understand how inclusive design can drive innovation, improve performance, and promote sustainability in diverse teams.
The number of late-diagnosed neurodivergent adults is steadily increasing, with up to 53% of professionals in industries such as tech identifying with brain-based differences like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia.
Historically, psychological, sociological, and medical frameworks have often misunderstood or marginalised the diverse experiences of neurodivergent individuals. While a lot attention has been given to the challenges faced by these professionals, there has been less focus on how they can excel and lead effectively – until now.
Come join us for some fun conversations with interesting people in and around the design community. New members are welcome! Grab your ticket now!
Speakers
Dr Manisha Amin
CEO, Inclusive Design Collective (IDCo.)
Manisha is an innovation leader and cultural and social change champion, focused on helping organisations harness the power of thinking from the edge. She’s the founder of Inclusive Design Collective (IDCo.), a social enterprise bringing together leaders in inclusive design for greater good. IDCo. specialises in co-designed facilitation, systems change, and tech for good.
Prior to creating Inclusive Design Collective, she was the presenter of podcast With, Not For and CEO of the Centre for Inclusive Design (CfID), Australia’s first inclusive design focused charity helping companies to build and design products, services, and policies that are inclusive, valuable, and usable for as many people as possible.
Manisha is passionate about social justice and business growth, and believes that when we combine the two, we get gold.
Manisha worked in innovation, design, environmental advocacy, and non-profits including Barnardos, Cancer Council, and Guide Dogs Australia. She’s on the Board of Diversity Council Australia, Bambuddha, Nautanki Theatre, and is a published novelist and an Adjunct Professor at Curtin University with a focus on Inclusive Design. She identifies as a neurospicy person of colour.
Shaheen
Founder & Learning Designer, Ta’leem Consulting
Shaheen has over 13 years experience in designing learning and leadership programs, with a focus on inclusion. With an academic background in learning design, design thinking, and social impact, she brings all her expertise together in creating safe spaces to drive impact and change.
Her work is the winner of several prestigious awards like Brandon Hall. Ta’leem Consulting leverages this expertise to create accessible and inclusive change for equitable impact.
Mariane Power
Co-founder & CEO, The Posify Group
Mariane is a clinical psychologist and neurodiversity specialist committed to advancing the personal and professional capabilities of neurodivergent individuals.
Her clinical expertise alongside her lived-experience of ADHD makes her a sought after speaker for organisations looking to integrate inclusive design principles with neuroscience and performance psychology to uncover and develop the potential of their diverse teams.
Awarded WorldClass Education Top Innovator by Uplink and Deloitte Global, Mariane is also author of The IMPACT Mindset Theory, co-founder of The Posify Group – a social enterprise supporting positive youth development, and host of Classroom 5.0, a podcast exploring the future of work, learning, and leadership.
Event Sponsors
This event is brought to you by Atlassian, Sh8peshifters, and Dynamic4.
