Being Human — Identity, Inclusion & Community in Design

Design doesn’t just shape objects and messages — it shapes who belongs. From street posters to social media, from visual identity to cultural storytelling, design and media define what is seen, what is celebrated, and what is quietly erased. In a rapidly diversifying Ireland, these choices carry enormous weight.

This panel brings together three voices working at the intersection of visual culture, community, and representation to explore what it means to design for, and with, the full complexity of human experience.

Gillian Henderson, co-founder of Jill & Gill, brings a designer’s perspective on visual storytelling, identity, and representing real people with nuance and boldness.
Michael McDermott, creative director of The Liberties Festival, brings deep insight into community-led culture making and how place, voice, and belonging are shaped by design choices.
Mamobo Ogoro, social psychologist and founder of GORM Media, brings expertise in intercultural belonging, ethical representation, and how media narratives shape identity, visibility, and inclusion.

Together, they ask:
How do we design identity with care? How do we ensure visibility without tokenism? And how can design become a tool for genuine belonging in the communities we share?

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