Nany Chen  


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I am a design researcher and graphic designer fostering social progress through cross-disciplinary action, translating abstract ideas into visual clarity and a mental health advocate.
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Technology & Racial Justice Collaborative
Branding, Research


How might we design a visual identity system that speaks to the racial justice community's values?















I worked with the Racial Justice and Tech Collaborative, a legal organization dedicated to justice policymaking in the U.S. I facilitated co-design sessions with stakeholders to gather feedback on platform conceptSZs and visual identity, then refined the designs to better meet community needs.



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CATA

Background
Process Overview


Background


The Technology & Racial Justice Collaborative (TRJC) is a community of over 200 researchers, organizers, policy advocates, and lawyers.

In this project, we are primarily working with Terrance Pitts, one of TRJC's organizers and a senior researcher from NYU Law. Terrance aims to build an online platform where experts and organizations can share their research and news. Additionally, TRJC needs a new visual identity system for their website and a newsletter template to engage their audience.

This project goes beyond branding—we also facilitate engaging discussions with partner organizations to foster collaboration.

Process Overview


This diagram illustrates the collaborative design process we followed to co-develop TRJC’s branding and newsletter materials. Starting with an interview guide and mood board informed by TRJC’s core values, we engaged a range of participants—including design collaborators, a TRJC representative, and individuals from aligned organizations—in a series of group interviews. Through their feedback, we identified key visual insights and ultimately translated them into a branding design guide and newsletter template rooted in shared understanding and aesthetic alignment.


1. Interview Guide & Moodboard Development
We began by reviewing documents and insights provided by Terrance Pitts, a TRJC representative, to create an initial mood board. This board curated imagery and logos that reflected TRJC’s vision and core themes—technology, racial justice, law, and human rights.







Interview Guide



2. Group Interviews with Diverse Stakeholders
To gather a wider range of perspectives beyond the founding team, we conducted two group interviews. With Terrance’s help, we invited design collaborators and representatives from legal and advocacy organizations. Participants were asked to respond to specific visuals from the mood board and share their emotional and conceptual interpretations.

Interview audience


  • Emile Ayoub (Brennan Center’s Liberty & National Security Program)
  • Don Bell (POGO)
  • Myaisha Hayes (MediaJustice)
  • Eric. C. Williams (Detroit Justice Center’s Economic Equity Practice)
  • David Siffert (S.T.O.P.)





Interview Questions




3. Defined Key Visual Insights
From the interviews and follow-up feedback from TRJC organizers, we synthesized key insights:

  • Some visuals (e.g. brain-tech imagery) felt alienating or misaligned with the values of human-centered justice work.

  • Participants expressed a desire for familiarity and accessibility in how the platform presents itself.


   


4. Final Output: Design Guide & Newsletter Template
Building on the interviews, we translated these insights into a branding guide and newsletter layout—offering clear, values-aligned visuals to support TRJC’s communication efforts.


Newsletter template design by Aishwarya