Michelle Ou - Belonging in Design.

We often talk about designing for belonging, but do designers themselves feel like they belong? As a Chinese-Australian young woman who came from a non-business, non-technology, non-design background, Michelle shares the lessons she’s learnt navigating the industry. This presentation will explore how we can collectively break the barriers preventing ourselves and our design community from feeling like they belong.

Transcript

1. Belonging
   in design.
   Michelle Ou (she/her)
   

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2. Takeaways:
   Reflect on your own sense of belonging and
   how we can collectively support each other
   to feel welcome in the industry.
   How I found my place as a designer
   

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3. not belonging
   feeling out of place, different,
   uncomfortable and insecure
   

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4. belonging
   feeling safe; knowing that it doesn’t
   matter that you’re different because
   your uniqueness makes you valuable
   

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5. customer service
   optometry
   technology consulting
   design
   My career journey
   

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6. I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough.
   I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough.
   I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough.
   I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough.
   I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough.
   I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough.
   I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough.
   I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough.
   I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough.
   I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough.
   

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7. I'm not professional enough.
   I'm not extraverted enough.
   I'm not qualified enough.
   Negative self talk
   

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8. Seeds of self doubt from
   internalising norms and biases.
   

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9. Have you ever felt like you needed
   to be something other than yourself
   to fit in and succeed as a designer?
   

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10. Have you ever felt like you needed to
    be something other than yourself to
    fit in and succeed as a designer?
    You're not alone.
    

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11. My differences were actually my
    unique selling point.
    

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12. I sought mentorship from designers
    whose stories resonated with me.
    

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13. I shone because others generously
    lit my candle with theirs.
    

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14. Unpack the negative self talk.
    Celebrate uniqueness.
    Uplift each other.
    1.
    2.
    3.
    How I found my sense of belonging
    

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15. Thank you
    

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