Dims, Sage x Powder Composted Vanity. Photo Courtesy of DesignforATL
Sin, Prong Fruit Bowl in Terracotta. Photo Courtesy of DesignforATL.
Aziza Mirzan, Wavy Vessel. Photo Courtesy of DesignforATL
Bande De Copains, Linn Sunglasses. Photo Courtesy of DesignforATL
Ladies and Gentleman Studio, Lightscape Candle Light Sculpture 1. Photo Courtesy of DesignforATL
Tortuga, Large Platform Planter. Photo Courtesy of DesignforATL
Tantuvi, Kulfi Pista Rug. Photo Courtesy of DesignforATL
DesignforATL Logo. Graphic Courtesy of DesignforATL
HELP! Last Days for Atlanta Design Fundraiser DesignForATL
On Wednesday, March 17, 2021, Soon C. Park, Hyun J. Grant, Suncha Kim, Yong Yue, Daoyou Feng, Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Ashley Yaun, and Paul Andre Michels were the victims of a mass shooting that targeted three massage parlors in the Atlanta area. The shooting was an act of specific racialized gendered violence amid a rise in hate crimes against Asian and Pacifc Islanders. The product of racist stereotypes faced by Asian-American women, and the demonization of sex workers propagated in American culture.
DesignforATL Logo. Graphic Courtesy of DesignforATL
The murders leave a hole in the lives of eight families. In an interview with the Daily Beast, Soon C. Park’s son, Randy Park remembers his mother: “In America, she did what she had to do,” he said. “She was a single mother of two kids who dedicated her whole life to raising them.” Highlighted is the failure of the state to ensure opportunity and security for immigrants and working-class Americans. A failure exacerbated by the pandemic.
Ladies and Gentleman Studio, Lightscape Candle Light Sculpture 1. Photo Courtesy of DesignforATL
In response to the financial uncertainty facing the victims’ families, Jenny Nguyen, founder of the publicity firm Hello Human, and Arati Rao, founder of the design studio Tantuvi, have joined forces with help from Jean Lee, of the design practice Ladies & Gentlemen Studio, to create #DesignForAtl, an Instagram-based fundraising initiative aimed at raising financial support for the deceaseds’ families. Nguyen explains that “when the Atlanta attacks happened, we felt the need to bring the design community, many of whom also belong to the AAPI community, together to raise funds for the families of the victims.”
-
Sin, Prong Fruit Bowl in Terracotta. Photo Courtesy of DesignforATL.
-
Bande De Copains, Linn Sunglasses. Photo Courtesy of DesignforATL
The fundraiser brings together over 80 designers who have donated their products to be given away in order to promote donations to Asian Americans Advancing Justice — Atlanta, who are managing direct financial relief to the families. Designers involved include Esther Choi, Huy Bui, Ladies & Gentlemen Studio, Noguchi Museum, SIN, Dims, Tantuvi, Aziza Mirzan, Bande De Copains, Tortuga, and dozens more.
To participate visit the @DesignForATL Instagram page, each product donated has a post with instructions in the caption. To enter the giveaway you must tap the link in DesignForATL’s bio and donate to @advancing_justice_atl, entering in the notes field #DesignForATL. The fundraiser ends Sunday, March 28th EST with winners announced on March 30th through the respective designers.
Text by Marco Estrella.
Photos courtesy of Design for ATL