Find your rhythm in equity, music and tech with IMPACT Conference

Written by Colleen Miller, Interview by Colleen Miller and Perrin Smith, Images courtesy of IMPACT

Nov. 3–5 marks the first IMPACT Conference hosted by SCAD. The groundbreaking event hopes to inspire students to consider how equitable design affects the world of music and technology. The three-day, virtual conference will include a case study competition, panels, networking events and special performances.

“This conference is about expanding your horizons,” said Aniekanabasi Asanga, a fourth-year service and industrial design student who is a member of the IMPACT student team. “As designers, creative thinkers and artists, it’s our job to think about the next step and how to create the most impact.”

In just a few short months, the five-person IMPACT student team and two faculty members have secured a diverse list of panelists and thirty students to participate in a case study competition conceptualizing the intersection of music, technology and design. Their solutions will support collaboration, professional development and inclusion. Over the course of four days, the competitors will interact with mentors from WarnerMedia, Brighthouse Creative, Inspire Brands, Elevation Church, HAVAS and Meta (formerly known as Facebook).

While music, equity and tech seem to be disparate pieces of a puzzle, these disciplines combine through a concept IMPACT refers to as rhythm. “These three things are the facets of a new tomorrow.” Asanga said. “Make things that are equitable. Live with technology rather than detach from the natural way of doing things. And music, it’s about rhythm. It’s about finding a balance between the noise and the silence.”

It’s through this rhythmic balance of noise and silence that real change can happen. Strong, equitable designers are ones who not only speak out but also take a moment to listen. “Equity is about connecting with people,” said Lara Federspiel, a third-year UX design student and member of the IMPACT student team. “And by connecting with people — especially in tech — hierarchies can be eliminated.”

In the future, IMPACT plans to shift the conference to host in-person events at the SCAD Atlanta campus and partner with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

To attend this year’s conference, register for free tickets on Eventbrite and follow IMPACT on Instagram for more updates.