Pride 2021: Getting back out there

Clancy Slack, Data Scientist and lead of the Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG) at Figma, shares what Pride month means to him, how we’re participating at Figma, and a call to designers, artists, and makers to create Pride posters in Figma.

Figma’s mission is to make design accessible to all. That means we spend a lot of time thinking about lowering barriers, leveling the playing field, and fostering communities of belonging and shared interests. And, it’s part of why we built Figma Community, where hundreds of thousands of Figma users come together each week. We believe that nothing great is built alone, and rely on each other and our community to create better—together.

Like many companies in our industry, we have a handful of internal Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that connect Figmates around shared identities. For members of the LGBTQ+ community, having space at work to be authentic and open is so important. I have led the Pride ERG since it was founded in 2019. Even before that, the LGBTQ+ community at Figma was organically coming together and hosting events to elevate our stories and the issues facing the broader community.

This year, as a part of our most recent Maker Week, the Pride group got together to share examples of Pride iconography that inspire us and co-designed some pieces of our own.

Pride feels different this year

For many in the LGBTQ+ community, it’s one of very few outlets throughout the year when we feel safe to express ourselves authentically, be surrounded by our community, and celebrate the progress that’s come before us. It is a chance to dance and cheer and feel part of something bigger than ourselves. But of course, Pride wasn’t always a parade. It honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, where demonstrators had finally had enough of anti-LGBTQ police raids at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village.

2020 held many stark reminders of injustice. As we were stuck at home in the middle of the pandemic, we were also reminded of the power of community, even from afar. And while the road to justice, equality, and equity is long, for me, Pride became a beacon of hope.

Fast forward to today, and it’s time to get back out there. With vaccinations rolling out around the world, many cities will be hosting in-person Pride parades. And along with friends, families, and fabulous rainbow couture, what else do you need for a Pride parade? Posters, of course…

A call for Pride posters

Calling all designers, artists, and makers to create Pride posters in Figma. Publish your work to the Figma Community with #pride for others to print and bring to their local parades or take the Pride spirit to their homes—we’ll pin a featured collection to the Community page. Need inspiration? Here are a few examples from our very own Figmates:

Check out this helpful template by Miggi for common sizing and printing instructions. Lastly, follow along on the Figma Twitter account next week, where we’ll spotlight some of our favorite poster designs.

With that, here’s to creating art and community, together. Happy Pride—we’ll see you all back out there.