What is the difference between a signatory and a member of the Design Justice Network?

DJN signatories are individuals that have signed on to the DJ principles. Signatories' names are listed on our website. DJN Members are individuals and Organizations who pay membership fees and/or agree to provide equivalent (volunteer or in-kind) services to the Design Justice Network (for example, by joining a Working Group).

How were the principles created?

The principles started as a hope to shape a shared definition of “design justice”– as distinguished from “design for social impact” or “design for good”. The principles were formed through several gatherings at the Allied Media Conference (AMC) in Detroit, the first of which was titled “Generating Shared Principles for Design Justice.” Participants and Volunteers have been identified as designers, artists, technologists, and community organizers. Follow this link to learn more about this process.

I just became a member of the network, what now?

Now that you're a Member, you'll probably want to sign up for both the DJN newsletter (if you're not already signed up there). This is a great way to get plugged into all the amazing things happening in the network.

You may also be interested in joining our DJN Members discussion list and DJN Members-only Slack channel, where you can find channels for Local Nodes, active working groups, discussion of ongoing opportunities and challenges in design justice practice … and probably memes ;) When you sign up as a member, you get an automatic email, inviting you both the member’s list, and DJN members slack channel - without joining as a member, you will not have access to these two items.

You can also join a Working Group, or Become part of (or start) a local node.

How can I learn more about Design Justice and the network?

There are several ways to learn more about the network on our resource page including our event schedule, audio recordings & videos of talks, downloadable zines, external resources, etc.

If you would like a more in-depth view of the network, history, and the organizations and individuals that inspired the network and principles, we suggest, Design Justice: Community-Led Practices to Build the Worlds We Need. You can buy the book here. It is also freely available online here.

What is the organizational structure of the network?

You can read more here on our Structure page.

What is a Local Node?

Nodes are a key part of a thriving network. Just as in botany, where a node is the part of a plant stem where new leaves emerge, a local node within the Design Justice Network is a space for local members to gather and grow design justice related projects, ideas, processes, and community.

Read more about Local Nodes here.

What are local nodes?
You can find a Design Justice Node in your area by following this link. Here you will find a list of active Nodes. Please contact them directly about meeting information or follow the Design Justice Networks Instagram for event updates.

Who can start a local node?
Please remember that in order to start a local node you need to first become a member of the Design Justice Network (you do not need to be a member to participate; only to organize one).

The process of becoming a DJN member is still being worked out given the scale of our network. It currently involves a Pay-What-You-Can fee, and/or agreeing to provide equivalent (volunteer or in-kind) services to the network.

How do I start a Local Node?
As a first step, we recommend you consult the Local Nodes Zine, a guide produced collaboratively by members of DJN.

This document outlines the process for how to get a node started, along with tips for organizing and hosting your first public meetings.

You can also visit the How to Create a New Local Node page on our website, for a short, step-by-step overview of the process.

What should I expect after submitting my Node Registration form?
Please note the Design Justice Steering Committee will review it as soon as possible. Following this review, the International Network Coordinators will set up a follow-up call with you.

During this follow-up call, the International Network Coordinators will want to hear how your first meeting(s) went, and know a bit more about the work you’d like to do moving forward.

How to become a member?

Sign up Here

The process of becoming a DJN member has evolved and is evolving; It currently involves a Pay-What-You-Can fee (minimum $0.50). Becoming a member through paid support helps ensure members are 1) in community with each other, 2) in alignment with the design justice principles and 3) in a space of care and safety. For the time it’s been in existence, paid membership has helped grow the capacity of the network. (More on DJN finances here) The goal is not to accumulate paid members but find ways to encourage facilitation, directly support the work that’s being done by members, and to manage safety.

How to make changes to membership?

To update (increase or decrease), update your contact information, or stop recurring payments, please submit this form here to Allied Media Projects. To be removed from our mailing lists, Slack channel, and member database please contact us.

How to cancel my DJN Membership?

You may cancel or change your Design Justice Network membership at any time by filling out this form here.

Ending your membership means you will no longer be part of the DJN Slack community, and the DJN member email list (you will be removed from both). Currently, we use a manual process to add/remove people from our membership list. This includes our list serves and slack. Please take into consideration that we will remove your email from these platforms, on the same day your request is complete.