On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, the Communication Design program at Parsons School of Design will host a lecture by Zoë Pulley, a designer and maker who will utilize stuff to surface the seemingly ordinary stories of Black folks through mixed media. The lecture will be part of the CD Lecture Series, which will feature a diverse range of speakers from the fields of design, art, media, and technology. The lecture will take place at the New School Tishman Auditorium and will be free and open to the public.

Zoë Pulley is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, where she majored in Industrial Design and minored in History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences. She is currently a designer at IDEO, a global design and innovation company, where she works on projects that span across various sectors, such as education, health, and social impact. She is also a co-founder of Black in Design, a platform that celebrates and amplifies the voices of Black designers and creatives.

In her lecture, Pulley will share her personal and professional journey as a designer and maker, and how she uses stuff as a medium to tell stories and create experiences. She will show some of her works, such as:

• A collection of objects that represent her family history and identity, such as a quilt made from her grandmother’s clothes, a necklace made from her father’s dog tags, and a book made from her mother’s letters.
• A series of installations that explore the themes of memory, belonging, and home, such as a living room that recreates her childhood home in Detroit, a bedroom that reflects her college dorm in Providence, and a kitchen that showcases her culinary heritage and influences.
• A project that investigates the role of hair in Black culture and identity, such as a hair salon that offers different styles and services, a hair museum that displays various artifacts and histories, and a hair workshop that teaches different techniques and skills.

Pulley will also discuss her design process and philosophy, and how she uses research, prototyping, testing, and iteration to create meaningful and impactful solutions. She will also share her insights and advice on how to be a successful and authentic designer and maker, and how to use design as a tool for social change and empowerment.

The lecture will be an inspiring and informative event that will attract a large and diverse audience of students, faculty, staff, and guests. The lecture will be followed by a Q&A session, where Pulley will answer questions from the audience and engage in a lively and thoughtful dialogue. The lecture will also be recorded and streamed online and can be watched on the CD Lecture Series website

Time: 10:30 — 11:30 am EST

Free!

Registration