Kaye Symington, a crowdfunding expert and consultant with Kickstarter, has spent her career talking about money and access in the creative sector.
It’s tough to find the resources to make things happen – even if that’s only to find the time and space to be creative in the first place.
Few companies have represented the seismic change that the internet has brought than Kickstarter. And recent initiatives, such as a $500k fund to support impactful projects by Asian, Black, Indigenous, and Latinx creators, show how the company wants to use its platform for good.
They are also one of Design Can’s Business Patrons.
What caught Symington’s attention was how ‘outspoken’ Design Can was in ‘addressing the real problems of a lack of accessibility and diversity within the design industry.’
Design Can is ‘paving the way for true change’ she added.
Having an opportunity or being given awareness isn’t enough. An inclusive design industry means meaningful support for everyone – regardless of their background.
“We all have dreams, the difference is that the people with the resources,” Everette Taylor, Kickstarter’s CEO, has recently explained in a talk, “are generally the ones that see those dreams come to fruition.”
Having the backing of a major company, one synonymous with creativity around the world, is an example of the reach and impact Design Can is having within the industry.
A ‘shared mission’ brings the two together, says Symington, a mission of ‘making creativity more accessible, helping more people bring their creative ideas into the world, and avoiding jumping through traditional funding hoops to support their work.’
‘We want to level a playing field at Kickstarter,’ she adds. ‘Design Can will help us make this happen.’
If you’re interested in being an inclusive business, a great first step is backing Design Can on Patreon, using the Jobs Board to boost your recruitment and learning more through the Resources Page.