Structural problems require structural partners.
Less than 3% of the design industry identifies as Black. That number has a cause — and a solution.
BDH does not pursue partners looking for logo placement. We seek organizations ready to invest in the infrastructure that produces the equitable design industry they claim to want. Sponsoring BDH is not charity. It is accountability with your name on it.
Who we are
Empowering Black designers for a more inclusive future in design.
Founded in Houston in 2021, Black Design Houston builds community infrastructure for Black creatives — events, mentorship, critical conversation, and the organizational scaffolding to sustain it all.
We are grounded in Dr. David McMillan's Sense of Community theory. Membership. Influence. Integration of needs. Shared emotional connection. These aren't abstract values — they are the architecture of everything we build.
Racial Representation
U.S. Design Industry
Source: AIGA Design Census · Illustrative data
White
Hispanic/Latino
Asian
Black
Other
In an industry that shapes culture, 5% is not representation. It is erasure with paperwork.
Research Initiative — Launching 2026
Network Disparity Research
BDH's inaugural research initiative is mapping the structural inequities inside Houston's design industry — from hiring networks to mentorship pipelines to portfolio review access.
Hiring Bias
In ProgressAnalyzing racial patterns in design hiring.
Network Access
In ProgressMapping mentorship pipelines.
Portfolio Gatekeeping
In ProgressInvestigating portfolio review bias.
For Institutions & Funders
Invest in Blackdesign. Buildthe future.
BDH works with foundations, companies, and cultural institutions who understand that investing in Black design is an investment in the future of the field itself.
Sponsorship, grants, program co-funding, and multi-year partnerships are all on the table. Come to the table.
BDH is fiscally sponsored by Fresh Arts. All grants and donations are tax-deductible.
The Dispatch
Stay connected with us.
BDH's biweekly newsletter — community news, design criticism, open calls, funding opportunities, and what we're reading, watching, and building. No spam. Community only.