This is the first and last thing I see when I go to bed. I think often of how far I’ve come and it was only made possible because someone in the world believed in me. Someone advocated for me. My parents are refugees who fled from Laos and lived temporarily in tiny cramped camps in Thailand, waiting for years for a country to accept us. Until one day, we received the approval of coming to America. Earlier in 2020, a news article re-appeared from a group of Black Americans advocating for America to accept Southeast Asian refugees because they, too, are humans who deserve to live. Little did I know, someone, a group of people, already believed in me. Believed in my worth. It’s such a powerful and humbling feeling to know a complete stranger cares so deeply for me. How beautiful it is to care for others and advocate for on their behalf when that person couldn’t. When that person didn’t have a seat at the table. Or have a stage. Or even the means to publish an article. How important it is to advocate for people.
Restorative. Design doesn’t have to be transactional. more than productive. more than inspirational. we can aim for restorative.