Bay Area Black Designers

 For seven years — from summer 2015 to the beginning of 2022 — BABD existed as a free community for Black design professionals in the SF Bay Area seeking friendship, connection, camaraderie, and a safe place to share their struggles while also supporting each other’s growth and career development. It was created and run by Kat Vellos, and was profiled in Forbes as a model for how an industry professional can create their own professional development group.

Bay Area Black Designers grew from five members to five hundred in its first few years, all via word of mouth and SEO. Many members who came to BABD said that the group fulfilled its purpose for them, by helping them feel less alone in an often isolating career, by helping them gain professional skills and navigate key moments in their careers, and by helping them find friendship and community with other Black folks who share their passion for design.

Members expressed time and again that BABD brought them a sense of connection and helped them learn and grow in a positive and supportive environment. The group was sunset in early 2022.

In members’ words…

“BABD introduced me to some of the people closest to me in my life.”

“When I was first starting out as a designer, BABD was where I turned to for guidance navigating the industry.”

“I was able to connect with other Black people in my field and have real conversations about what it is to be a Black professional in the Bay Area. It really helped my mental health.”

“This group has given me confidence. Knowing that there’s more of “us” in tech even if I don’t see it at my company.”

“Having access to a thoughtful and engaging community to bounce my ideas off of has been invaluable.”

“This group gave me amazing advice when I needed it. Inspiration to get me through rough weeks, plus awareness of events and opportunities.”

“The network was huge for me and being able to ask for advice helped a ton.”

“This group has been very informative. I have been presented clear paths to take to pursue and advance my career.”

“I really appreciated being a part of this group. The energy and tone were perfect! BABD was the best meetup ever, impacting lives in a beautiful way.”

“BABD has been a constant reminder that I'm not alone.”

“I finally got to be a part of a brilliant, beautiful community of designers that speak my language.”

“The feeling of community was what I value most.”

“I valued the indirect mentorship. It’s very motivating to see others like me succeeding in my industry.”

“I loved how open the community was to new people, and as an aspiring designer, I loved seeing the representation that I don't see in my day job.”

“Thank you so much for forming and maintaining this group. It was my lifeline. I was so glad to find it and I feel very blessed to have been part of something so wonderful—so honest. Thank you, thank you.”

Want to build a group of your own like Bay Area Black Designers?

Follow the advice from founder Kat Vellos’ playbook in Forbes