FAQs

You’re eligible to join the Guild Retreat if…

👉🏾 You’re a Black person working in or around research and design.

Your current UK-based role might be user researcher, design researcher, UX researcher, product designer, digital designer, service designer, UX designer, design strategist, programme designer or working in an innovation team.

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👉🏾 You’re in a junior or mid-level role and want to find a route for progression.

You’re early on in your career and hoping to progress fast into more senior roles. You might have between 1 and 5 years of experience in research and design roles. Or you may have more years of transferable experience, but are finding it hard to land yourself a job at the level you deserve.

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👉🏾 You’re working in areas focused on positive social change.

You have a passion for social change. You work in or around non-profits, civil society, voluntary, social, community or governmental organisations. You might work in a charity, trust, foundation, agency, consultancy, studio, B-Corp, or governmental organisation.

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Not sure you’re the right fit? Get in touch.

Unfortunately, the application deadline for the pilot retreat was 17 March 2023.

If you’ve missed this, unfortunately we won’t able to offer you a space.

Please register your interest in the Black Design Guild here, for updates on future retreats and more.

That’s okay! This retreat offers a space for Black people in junior-mid level design and research roles to explore what it means to be leaderful, how leadership qualities show up at different phases in your career, and what tools and capacities you can build as you navigate your learning and career journey.

This isn’t aimed at “leaders”, it’s aimed at you, and however you’re showing up today.

We only have 10 spots at the retreat.

When you apply your application will be reviewed by the Black Design Guild Team.

If you meet the eligibility requirements above, we’ll be in touch to arrange a quick call to learn more about you and why you want to join.

We’ll then be back in touch if you’re selected, to invite you to join the retreat.

We’ll let you know by the end of March to give you enough time to plan time off and make arrangements.

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If you’ve not been selected this time, we’ll be in touch to let you know, and share a little bit about why. We’ll also be back in touch when we launch the full Black Design Guild Programme if you’ve asked us to do so.

This is a fully funded pilot retreat.

Each place on this pilot retreat costs cost about £5,000 per person which is covered by the Black Design Guild.

We will cover your travel, food and accommodation, so there is no cost to you attending, except for your energy, commitment and time!

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Note: you’ll need to take three days out of work to join the retreat.

This is a retreat for 10 UK-based Black researchers and designers who are working in and around non-profits, civil society, voluntary, social, community or governmental organisations.

We anticipate that the group will include a mix of research and design disciplines but that everyone will be unified by taking a design thinking, human-centred approach to their work.

We’ll also be joined by facilitators and any speakers (who may also stay overnight) and the members of the Black Design Guild Team

To be Announced! Once everything is confirmed, we’ll share more details with you here.

We’ll share more logistical details shortly, but your travel costs will be covered.

We’re committed to making sure that everyone can access and fully participate in the retreat. The venue and retreat programme have been selected and will be designed with this in mind.

If you decide to attend the retreat and have accessibility requirements, we will work with you, the venue and the facilitators to ensure the spaces, activities and content are fully accessible.

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Please note: accessibility needs will not impact your eligibility to join us at the retreat.

We’ve chosen a venue that not only brings the vibe and energy we’re after, but also has enough space for everyone attending to have their own room.

You are of course welcome to share if you’re attending with someone you know!

We understand that care responsibilities can often be a significant barrier to attending programmes like this, however, we strongly encourage you to still apply.

If you’re selected and this is something you need support with, we’ll work with you to find a solution to support your attendance.