April 24–26, 2025
5–7 pm EST
Virtual Event

Our Mission

CompassionConverge is an invitation to discuss the intersections of inclusion and undergraduate research in design. We believe in the power of emerging designers to dismantle cycles of oppression and to build a community of inclusive practitioners. Our mission is to create compassionate convergence—a space for voices to be heard, concerns to be raised, and experiences with inclusion in design to be shared in an effort to learn from one another, collaborate and explore together, and envision the future through intentional reflection.

CompassionConverge 2025 is a multi-day virtual symposium dedicated to amplifying the voices, concerns, and expertise of emerging designers, a demographic frequently overlooked in design knowledge production and professional development. Students and participants have expressed particular interest in topics surrounding language and cultural preservation and revitalization, as well as exploring design practices in non-traditional contexts.

Over the course of the event, attendees will engage deeply with topics including:

Political Discourse in Design: Focused dialogues offering practical guidance to undergraduate designers preparing to enter the workforce, emphasizing the importance of advocating for oneself, navigating challenging conversations, and confidently speaking up without fear of losing opportunities or compromising professional standards.
Broadening Horizons: Encouraging emerging designers to explore diverse career paths and recognize the multitude of professional possibilities within inclusive and socially engaged design practices.

This event will:

Bridge gaps between the lived experiences of emerging designers and undergraduate design education, ensuring alignment with contemporary professional realities.
Position emerging designers as active contributors and knowledge producers, fostering interactive dialogue and collaborative learning.
Provide meaningful early-career networking opportunities with inclusive design leaders and practitioners.

Featured sessions will address critical areas such as language and cultural revitalization, accessibility, and innovative applications of design in diverse and non-traditional contexts. A diverse range of invited workshop facilitators, panelists, and keynote speakers will lead engaging sessions complemented by generative discussions designed to incorporate diverse perspectives.

CompassionConverge is proudly co-hosted by undergraduate students in the Miami University Communication Design Program and the AIGA Design Educators Community (DEC) Steering Committee.

Our Hosts

Ashleigh Brelage (she/her)

Hi! I'm a senior Communication Design major at Miami University. I have two minors: Photography and Art and Architecture History. While at Miami, I am completing a focus on leadership and have witnessed the intersection of design and belonging in my previous roles within Orientation and Transition Programs. In my free time, I enjoy playing board games, watching movies, reading, and spending time with friends and family! I am passionate about inclusivity and belonging because I have seen how important it is for students and designers to feel seen, heard, and represented in the world.

Stella Hudson (she/her)

Hello! I'm currently a junior majoring in Communication Design and Emerging Technology in Business and Design at Miami University. At Miami, I serve as the VP of Marketing for Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. and as the Chair of Marketing for Students for Justice in Palestine. I believe that design is a powerful tool for change, and I am passionate about using it to create impact. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, making art, and spending time outdoors. I strongly believe that representation matters, and I am excited to be part of Compassion Converge, where I can help create space for people to feel seen and heard in the design community.

Land Acknowledgement

Miami University is located within the traditional homelands of the Myaamia and Shawnee people, who along with other indigenous groups ceded these lands to the United States in the first Treaty of Greenville in 1795. The Miami people, whose name our university carries, were forcibly removed from these homelands in 1846.

In 1972, a relationship between Miami University and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma began and evolved into a reciprocal partnership, including the creation of the Myaamia Center at Miami University in 2001. The work of the Myaamia Center serves the Miami Tribe community and is dedicated to the revitalization of Miami language and culture and to restoring that knowledge to the Myaamia people.

Miami University and the Miami Tribe are proud of this work and of the more than 140 Myaamia students who have attended Miami since 1991 through the Myaamia Heritage Award Program.

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