Black designers have mastered code-switching while working in predominantly white spaces, but how can they embrace their authenticity more in professional settings? We’re covering this topic during the AfroTech Conference from the lens of Terrence Williams, a Black designer and visual artist who consistently advocates for more inclusive design spaces. He has been working as a senior design lead at Salesforce for the past four years. In the “Designing Blackness: How Black Designers Can Embrace Their Authenticity” session on the engineering and design stage, Williams plans to talk about why it’s crucial for Black designers to embrace being their most authentic selves in workspaces. “As a designer of color, I’ve had to navigate a number of spaces where I may be the only one or may not always feel as connected,” Williams told AfroTech. “I’ve had to learn to build my community as time has gone on.” Williams also told AfroTech that he struggled early on in his career without mentors that...

Live events in the entertainment industry have been scarce for the last few months due to restrictions for in-person gatherings. However, artists and companies have been coming up with innovative ways to keep the industry afloat. This week, rapper Offset and event and entertainment facility Axis Replay announced the launch of a brand new production company called AXSD Media , which specializes in hosting both live and virtual events for artists to perform their music and still interact with fans, REVOLT TV reports . “With COVID-19 shutting down performances, it’s tough on artists mentally and financially; especially emerging artists,” Offset said in a statement . “AXSD Media offers a solution that lets artists do what they love in-person as safely as possible while still reaching fans virtually at the same time.” From an artist’s standpoint, Offset’s new venture will create a happy medium between artists and fans to allow for meaningful interactions and fulfilling performances. “We...