Report: Outreach and Event Grant | Latino Design Histories Webinar Series

22 November 2024 -

Raquel Castedo, programming chair at AIGA Baltimore and the Society of Design Arts (SoDA), reports on the achievements, scope, and financial allocation related to the Latino Design Histories webinar series, which was supported by the DHS Outreach and Event Grant:

The central objective of the Latino Design Histories webinar series is to spotlight the multifaceted histories of Latin American design while establishing a virtual platform that empowers researchers to present their work and foster connections across a global audience.

Thus far, we have successfully presented a total of six online programs. Throughout 2021 and 2022, our series garnered approximately 800 registrants, with nearly half actively engaging in the events. Our audience is geographically diverse, as 50% are in the United States, 35% represent a variety of Latin American countries, and 15% originate from other global regions. The digital medium of our webinars has significantly expanded our outreach, differing notably from traditional in-person initiatives. Furthermore, this format amplifies the accessibility of academic knowledge to the general public. It is a virtual arena for disseminating published research and establishing connections among Latin American researchers and a global community.

The Latino Design Histories webinar series received funding from the Design History Society for three online events, one in 2021 and two in 2022. Each event featured esteemed researchers and their groundbreaking studies on Latin American design history. The overarching aim of the series was to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogues, encourage cross-cultural comprehension, and create a virtual conduit for sharing published research with academic and non-academic audiences.

Webinars that received funding from the Design History Society:

NOVEMBER 18, 2021 - Locating Design Exchanges in Latin America and the Caribbean

This webinar featured design historians Dr. Livia Rezende and Dr. Patricia Lara Betancourt, who discussed the themes and ideas behind their special issue in the Journal of Design History. They explored decolonizing and globalizing the study of design history in Latin America and the Caribbean. The event drew 62 participants from 15 countries, showcasing its global appeal.

JUNE 30, 2022 - Mexican Railways and Information Design

Dr. María González de Cossío presented her research on information design related to the development of Mexican railways in the 19th century. The presentation highlighted the significance of information design in understanding historical contexts. The Q&A session included participation from Baltimore-based artist Edgar Reyes. The event garnered 92 registrants from 10 countries, with 58 participants actively engaging during the session.


OCTOBER 15, 2022 - Untold Stories on the U.S. Territory of Puerto Rico and its Diaspora

Dr. María de Mater O’Neill and Ramdwin González-Otero presented untold design stories about Puerto Rico. O’Neill introduced a community-based design archive, while González-Otero discussed cultural identity through historical posters. The Q&A session included participation from Baltimore-based curator Christina Delgado and Puerto Rico-based designer Alberto Rigau. The event attracted 117 registrants, with 54 attendees engaging in the discussions.

Audience and Accessibility:
The Latino Design Histories webinars garnered significant interest from a diverse audience. The attendees primarily comprised undergraduate and postgraduate students, practitioners, and the general public. The series’ accessibility was enhanced by offering the events in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, facilitating broader participation.

Funds Utilisation:
The total cost for interpretation for these three events was approximately £1323.41 (US$ 1687.00). The funds granted by the Design History Society (£750 for the three events) were utilized to cover part of the costs of providing interpretation services in English-Spanish and English-Portuguese. These grants played a crucial role in the success of the webinar series. This critical feature enabled participants from various language backgrounds to engage fully with the content.


Documentation:
The series’ recordings in three languages—English, Spanish, and Portuguese— were made available to the public on the AIGA Baltimore website. This initiative created a unique repository of knowledge accessible to people worldwide, further enhancing the impact and reach of the webinar series.

For access to the recorded webinars, please visit:
https://baltimore.aiga.org/lat...