Learn how to turn your equity values into action and kick off new projects feeling grounded, creative, and care-full.
Program dates to be announced
Applications for Cohort 2 open late Summer 2024!
Click here for a screenreader-friendly course information page!
Hey there! If you're scrolling this page, I'm guessing a few things:
First, you're my people and I'm happy you're here! And that's why I created Equity Design Essentials.
You're passionate about food. You're eager to create more equitable programs, products, services, events, or other experiences in the food system. And you want to align your values with your professional practice.
This two-month program is an engaging cohort-based experience created specifically for designers, innovators, and changemakers working in the food system who are ready to put their equity values into action.
This program was created for any professional in the U.S. food system who designs—regardless of your title! It's really about what you do in your work.
So if you're creating or co-creating programs, products, services, events, or other experiences within food—and you're looking to build or strengthen your equity practice—this course is for you.
Do you develop programs for a non-profit working on food issues? Produce events for a food company? Conduct research on food-related initiatives? Develop new food products? Map out food distribution plans or logistics? Plan any food-related project? Then, my friend, you are designing. And we'd love to support you in integrating an equity practice into the important work you do!
Hello! My name is Lucy Flores (she/her) and I am a design strategist and founder of Studio Magic Hour. I'm passionate about all things food and have dedicated my career to advancing equity in the food system through design. I've led design projects, facilitated workshops, and coached in-house design and innovation teams at organizations including the California Academy of Sciences, the Fair Food Network, FoodCorps, Hopelab, The Nature Conservancy, Plant Futures, Share Our Strength, and the Southern Poverty Law Center. I am a former Equitable Design Fellow at Hopelab, a School of Graphic Design Advisory Board member, and a member of the Design Justice Network, the Democracy & Belonging Forum at the Othering & Belonging Institute Equity Army, and AIGA.
Is there a sector of the food system this is focused on?
Nope. The mindsets and practices you'll learn in this program can be applied in any sector, whether you work at a non-profit, government entity, for-profit, or within something less formal (but just as impactful!) such as a coalition or network.
How will this program meet accessibility needs?
All materials will be available in screenreader-friendly formats, auto-captions will be available on all video content, and speakers will provide visual descriptions of infographics and other relevant images. Additionally, every participant will be invited to share individual accessibility needs and our team will do everything we can to meet those requests!
Why is there an application?
I want to be sure you're a good fit for the program before you make a financial and time investment. To that end, there's a short application that helps me get to know you a bit. And I'll open up a conversation if I don't think it's a good fit for any reason.
What if I have other questions?
Don't be a stranger! Please email lucy@studiomagichour.com with questions and I'll get back to you as quickly as possible.
Studio Magic Hour does not offer refunds for this program due to the high-touch nature of the program. If you have to drop for any reason, you will get to keep all materials (hard copy and digital) and you will continue to have access to the weekly video content.
Do you have a refund policy?
What's the time commitment?
I suggest planning on 2–4 hours per week. On Mondays we'll drop pre-recorded video content and relevant module materials (for you to review on your own time) and on Thursdays we'll convene for a one-hour group coaching call (held every Thursday at 8 am HT / 10 am PT / 11 am MT / 12 pm CT / 1 pm ET). There will also be some independent activities depending on the week. That being said, how much time you spend with the materials is up to you. We're all adults here, and everyone has different things going on in their lives, so I will invite you to participate as you are able.
Is this course for equity design beginners?
This is an essentials program created for folks who are eager to design more equitably and design more equitable outcomes in their work, but who are earlier in their equity design journey. This is not a JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, or inclusion) course, but rather a foundational course on using an equity-driven approach to design. We focus on what I call the "grounding" phase in design, which is where we all can start as practitioners, whether we're design researchers or program developers. I'd suggest taking a look at the topics covered in the Program Snapshot and seeing if the content will be a good fit for you. And if you're not sure, drop me a note at lucy@studiomagichour.com and we can chat about your specific situation!
What if I can't make a weekly group coaching call?
That's okay! Life happens (illness, vacation, whatever—you don't need to explain why!). While you'll have access to all of the pre-recorded videos in each module we release each week, we will not be recording group coaching calls in order to convene a space where folks can feel more comfortable sharing their reflections on the work. We'll miss you but understand when absences happen.
Program dates to be announced
Studio Magic Hour © 2024
What Other Practitioners Are Saying
Lucy's facilitation brings energy, truth, and joy to really complex equity topics. You WILL dive deep and unpack complex systems, but you will also connect, giggle, and feel re-energized.
– Tania Anaissie, Founder of Beytna Design and Co-Creator of Liberatory Design
It was brilliant.
– Participant, Studio Magic Hour Bias Mitigation Workshop