Designers join forces to support victims of the Atlanta shooting

The American design community rallied together for the #DesignforATL fundraising campaign, an initiative by Hello Human founder Jenny Nguyen and Arati Rao of Tantuvi rugs in support of the victims of the Atlanta attacks and the wider Asian American and Pacific Islander community

Design Fundraiser for Atlanta victims
Left, oxide red ‘Pyramid’ table Lamp by In Common With design studio. Right, Virginia Sin's ‘Prong’ terracotta bowl. Both pieces are part of the #DesignforATL fundraiser launched by Jenny Nguyen and Arati Rao to support the victims of the Atlanta attacks
(Image credit: Left, oxide red ‘Pyramid’ table Lamp by In Common With design studio. Right, Virginia Sin's ‘Prong’ terracotta bowl. Both pieces are part of the #DesignforATL fundraiser launched by Jenny Nguyen and Arati Rao to support the victims of the Atlanta attacks)

With the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in the United States still reeling from the events of 16 March, when a gunman murdered eight people in the Atlanta, Georgia, area (six of whom were women of Asian descent), and protests taking place around the country last weekend, the need to support and accurately represent Asians in America has never felt more urgent. Violence against AAPIs has seen a sharp spike in the United States in the past year, and increased awareness of such racist behaviour has prompted many AAPIs in the creative community to share experiences they might previously have remained quiet about.

Activism and advocacy for AAPIs may be increasingly visible in the American fashion and culinary fields, but in the design world, it is only now that a coordinated effort is starting to take shape. Today marks the launch of the #DesignforATL campaign – a digital fundraiser, organized in partnership with the Atlanta-based nonprofit Asian Americans Advancing Justice, that will benefit the families and children of the victims in the Atlanta shooting. Organized by Jenny Nguyen, the founder of a disruptive public relations collective Hello Human, Jean Lee of Ladies & Gentlemen Studio and Arati Rao of the contemporary rug company Tantuvi, the campaign features a raffle of design objects and creative services donated by over 80 design studios and collectives from around the country.

Jenny Nguyen Hello Human founder

Jenny Nguyen, founder of disruptive PR collective Hello Human, who together with Arati Rao organised the #DesignforATL fundraising campaign

(Image credit: TBC)

‘Arati, Jean and I started working together in summer 2020, when both Tantuvi and Ladies & Gentlemen Studio joined the Hello Human roster as founding clients. Both being from East and South Asian descent, we have often talked with each other about our personal experiences dealing with racism in America, and our mutual desire to support and lift the voices of [Black, indigenous and people of colour] designers in our community,’ says Nguyen.

‘When the Atlanta attacks happened, we felt the need to bring our design community, many of whom also belong to the AAPI community, together to raise funds for the families of the victims – we have been so humbled by the huge amount of support we have received from the diverse range of participating designers in such a short amount of time. We are hoping to make a big financial impact for the victims’ families.’

Design Fundraiser for Atlanta victims

‘Lightscape Candle Light’ sculptures by Ladies & Gentlemen Studio

(Image credit: TBC)

The raffle include works by Ladies & Gentlemen Studio, Colony, Karl Zahn, and Tantuvi, among many others, and even a custom public relations toolkit from Hello Human. This banding together of the design community is just the first iteration of more advocacy and representation for AAPIs to come.

American design


Donations should be made directly to Asian Americans Advancing Justice. Including the hashtag #DesignforATL in the notes field along with the preferred designer name will ensure that the donation is added to the draw, which ends on Sunday 28 March at midnight EST. The winners will be announced on Tuesday 30 March. For more details about the participating designers and products, please visit @DesignForATL on Instagram.

Design Fundraiser for Atlanta victims

A sconce by Brendan Ravenhill in collaboration with Block Shop Textiles

(Image credit: TBC)

Design Fundraiser for Atlanta victims

Rosie Li's ‘Bubbly’ lamp in bronze

(Image credit: TBC)

Design Fundraiser for Atlanta victims

Rugs by Tantuvi, whose founder and creative director Arati Rao worked with Jenny Nguyen to set up the #DesignforATL fundraising campaign

(Image credit: TBC)

INFORMATION

@DesignForATL

Pei-Ru Keh is a former US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru held various titles at Wallpaper* between 2007 and 2023. She reports on design, tech, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru took a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars, actively seeking out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.