Where: Online, on Zoom

Institutional and systematic oppression exists in the UK and manifests in the services which we design and deliver to users. As people who create and deliver services and products, it's our responsibility to understand how our power and privilege impacts our work and the services we create, and to try to do better.

In this course, we will explore:

• our own privileges

• how power manifests in services

• how power and privilege plays out in the way we work (our practice and methods)

• how the decisions we make determine who has power, and how we might change this

When:

Part 1: Tuesday 13 Feb 10:00am -12:00pm GMT
Part 2: Wednesday 14 Feb 10:00am -12:00pm GMT + 30 mins homework
Part 3: Thursday 15 Feb 10:00am -12:00pm GMT + 30 mins homework
Part 4: Friday 16 Feb 10:00am -12:00pm GMT

You must be able to attend all 4 parts of the course, including homework.

Who it's for

This course is relevant for user centred designers, researchers, product people and BAs working in digital products and services.

We have a few subsidised or free tickets available. If you’re Black, disabled, trans, First Nations, not university educated, or if you’re working in the climate space - get in touch clara.greo(a)gmail.com

What you’ll learn

After attending this course, we aim for people to:

• Work in a more equitable way and deliver more equitable products

• Be aware of their own power and how power informs, shapes and is expressed in the work we do

• Think critically about equity and justice in public services

• Educate themselves and others about the impact of power and privilege in our work

• Change the way power is distributed in their teams and the products they build

• Identify, create and use tools to embed more equitable practices in their work

About the course

There will be up to 16 people on the course from a variety of different organisations and roles, with a variety of identities and lived experiences. 

No experience or knowledge is required. We will ask you to bring a piece of work with you to the course.

We have a code of conduct for the course, and we prioritise making the course safe and inclusive for everyone. The course addresses many different types of oppression, examples of oppression are discussed in the course and people may share their own thoughts and experiences - some participants may find these things traumatic or triggering. In the first session we will discuss examples of oppression in the UK based in homophobia, racism, sexism and gender discrimination and ableism.

We created this course when Sonia and Clara worked together in government at GDS in 2019. It was initially created for designers, and has been expanded for other disciples and industries. We have run the course many times face to face and remotely, as well as in shorter formats for conferences and workshops.

Breastfeeding or chestfeeding in the course is welcome.

Group discount: We offer a 10% discount if you purchase 3 or more tickets for a group of colleagues from the same workplace. 

Payment via purchase order and invoice: We can also take payment by purchase order & invoice for an extra fee, get in touch with us at clara.greo(a)gmail.com to pay this way.

About the trainers

Clara

Clara is an independent designer, researcher and trainer. She has been working in the research and design industry for over 20 years and has done a lot of work in building capability through training and community-based education.

Clara worked at the Government Digital Service as a Lead Designer for 8 years. During this time she developed and ran 7 training courses at GDS for the cross-government community, training 1000s of civil servants.

She is determined to bring equity and justice into public sector digital transformation. She’s Australian, an immigrant, a part-time worker and a parent.

You can find Clara on on her website and on twitter

Sonia

Sonia is a freelance designer and researcher. Their background is in design and technology, with a particular focus on accessibility and inclusion. They are interested in work that imagines more equitable, abundant futures.

Sonia has worked with extensively in the public sector, from central and local government to the NHS, in the social sector from national charities to community organising. They also have experience with mission-based startups.

Outside design and technology, their research focuses on animal-human relations, with a particular interest in animals within food systems.

You can find Sonia on their website.

Sign ups

We need a minimum of 6 people to run this course. If we don’t reach this number we will refund your ticket, and we will let you know about a future date for the course.

Cancellation and refund policy

Course fees are non-refundable if cancelled less than 7 days before the course starts.

Please get in touch as soon as possible if you need to cancel your place on a course.

A 10% fee will apply if cancelled more than 7 days before course commencement to cover processing fees.

Get in touch

If you have a question or there is anything we can do to enable you to be able to fully participate in this course, contact clara.greo(a)gmail.com