Pioneer in Design as Social Practice

MY IMPACT

Nu Goteh is the co-founder of Deem Journal, a platform and publication that is focused on design as social practice, and founder of Room for Magic, a design studio that operates at the intersection of design, social impact, and business. He is currently based in Los Angeles; however, he was born in Liberia and migrated to the USA as a refugee at a young age. Nu believes in the power of design to create equitable exchange and address community needs. He advocates for the importance of understanding the community’s issues and desires to inform strategy and creative execution.

MY JOURNEY

Nu shared that his parents’ experience as refugees and his own sense of optimism as a designer and immigrant inspired him to create a space for positive change. The Deem Journal is an exploration of deconstructing design and reconstructing it with social inclusion at the center. He seeks to create a space for disgruntled designers to engage with changemakers, as we all work towards a desired future with different perspectives at the table.

He advises the next generation of social impact entrepreneurs to be kind, curious, and open to learning and iterating. Recently, Nu drew inspiration from a collective in South Central LA called the Scope of Work, who’s interdisciplinary and community-focused approach resonated with him. They conduct community meetups, resource exchange, and creative sessions for problem-solving in their local community.