Featured in the April issue of Elle Decor Magazine. Photo by Alaric Campbell
How We Started
The Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG) was founded in 2018 by Malene Barnett, an artist based in Brooklyn, NY, to combat the lack of representation of Black talent and culture in the design industry.
BADG is a global platform representing a curated collective of independent Black artists, makers, and designers across various art and design disciplines who are at the top of their respective fields.
We strive towards creating an inclusive arts and design environment, through equity and inclusivity, by providing visibility and opportunities for our members. In addition, through our programming and events,(a) we create dialogue, (b) take action towards rewriting the narrative behind the misrepresentation of our ancestral legacy in design and (c) bring awareness to the inequitable design culture.
The Black Artists + Designers Guild is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; all donations are 100% tax-deductible and support our mission to build a more equitable and inclusive creative culture by advancing a community of independent Black artists, makers and designers in creative industries.
What We Do
Though our online directory, special project collaborations, exhibitions and connections with the media, we promote the excellence of our members, provide opportunities to showcase their work and make introductions to decision makers for commissioned projects.
In addition, our events — BADG Talks, BADG Power Dinners and BADG Design Week — create safe spaces for conversation, learning and pays tribute to our ancestral creative legacy. We build on our mission by fostering the next generation of artists, makers and designers, by working with leaders of institutions, design firms, publications and manufacturers to create an inclusive design culture.
