Design for Belonging
By Susie Wise
Why we supported it
Design for Belonging imagines a world where everyone feels genuinely seen, heard, and valued in their communities—where belonging is not left to chance but intentionally designed into the fabric of our schools, workplaces, and organizations. In this world, when people enter a space or join a group, they don't have to shrink or hold back to fit in; instead, they can show up as their authentic selves and know they are welcomed as full members of the community.
Design for Belonging is bringing that vision to life. Created by Dr. Susie Wise, a design leader at Stanford's d.school and co-creator of Liberatory Design, it provides a practical, illustrated framework that uses the tools of design to intentionally build inclusion and reduce othering. Its goal is to empower leaders, educators, and community builders—especially those working to serve people furthest from opportunity—to transform the culture of their organizations through everyday acts that honor each person's contributions and help everyone thrive.
Problem:
Despite growing awareness around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), many leaders and organizations feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start. They want to create more equitable, inclusive environments but lack concrete tools to make change. Meanwhile, countless individuals experience othering daily—feeling invisible, unwelcome, disconnected, or forced to hold back parts of themselves to fit in. These feelings aren't just uncomfortable; they fundamentally undermine people's ability to show up as learners, workers, partners, and participants. Without belonging, people cannot reach their full potential.
Root Cause:
Organizations and communities treat belonging as something that happens naturally rather than recognizing it as something that must be intentionally designed. Many DEI efforts focus on data and technical solutions rather than addressing the relational, emotional experience at the heart of equity work. Leaders don't realize that belonging is built through specific, designable moments—invitations, entries, participation structures, contributions, repairs, and exits—and through levers of design like rituals, roles, spaces, and systems. Design for Belonging seeks to change that. By helping people recognize that belonging and othering are feelings we experience in our bodies, and by providing concrete exercises and frameworks (like emotional journey mapping and "assumption storming"), it empowers anyone to start designing for belonging right away. Grounded in the work of scholars like john a. powell from the Othering & Belonging Institute and informed by interdisciplinary thinkers including bell hooks and Brené Brown, this framework helps people move beyond abstract equity goals to create cultures where everyday acts—from how we introduce ourselves to how we honor departures—build trust, respect, and a genuine sense that everyone belongs.