The Design Observer Twenty

A (mostly) annual list of twenty remarkable people or projects who are addressing urgent social needs sustainably, by challenging key assumptions about how the world can and should work. Think of them as beacons, not icons, shining a light on the next best version of the next best idea.

Ellen McGirt|The Design Observer Twenty

Games for Change

Ellen McGirt|The Design Observer Twenty

Suzanne Ishaq, PhD

Delaney Rebernik|The Design Observer Twenty

Timnit Gebru

Delaney Rebernik|The Design Observer Twenty

Mariana Matus, PhD + Newsha Ghaeli

Ellen McGirt|The Design Observer Twenty

The Redesigners

Ellen McGirt|The Design Observer Twenty

Deondre Smiles, PhD

Ellen McGirt|The Design Observer Twenty

Alison Mears + Jonsara Ruth

Giving architects and designers the tools they need to remove the toxic chemicals in affordable housing and beyond.

Ellen McGirt|The Design Observer Twenty

A Letter from IDEO’s CEO: Celebrating the Redesigners

The Design Observer Twenty is our curated selection of twenty remarkable people, projects, and big ideas solving an urgent social need.

Delaney Rebernik|The Design Observer Twenty

Cindi Leive

A feminist media collective dishes up gender and worker equity at scale.

Ellen McGirt|The Design Observer Twenty

Dr. Dima Gazda

Bringing elegant design, inclusion, and responsible AI to the field of prosthetics.

Delaney Rebernik|The Design Observer Twenty

Edwin Keh

Preparing the fashion industry for a sustainable future through breakthrough research and collaboration.

Delaney Rebernik|The Design Observer Twenty

Black Feminist Fund

Showing the philanthropic sector — and us all — how to fund Black feminists like we want them to win: with $100 million to power the global movements they’re leading.