Kristen Stain

Oh hey Bluesky! Just popping in to show you one of my latest ceramic pieces :) I’m enjoying playing with new shapes

Movie Theaters as Modern Underground Railroads: How 'Sinners' Created Freedom Spaces in Plain Sight For 137 minutes, "Sinners" transforms theaters into Underground Railroad stations—where Black truth flows freely. Darkened spaces become corridors of breath. Tears fall uncensored. And for a moment, l...

Movie theaters as modern-day Underground Railroads? Read how "Sinners" carves space for Black truth in plain sight.

www.aroko.world/how-sinners-...

Welcome to ÀROKÒ.WORLD Welcome to the ÀROKÒ.WORLD, a home for critique, reflection, and conversation at the intersection of Blackness and design. Brought to you by Àrokò Cooperative.

Hey #BlackSky we thought y'all might be interested in a Black worker-owned publication focused on design. Come on down and give us a read!

And last but not least, a big shout out to our illustrators! Thank you to Rachel Domond, @mdlcomics.bsky.social , Diana Ejaita, Franco Égalité, Aaron Marin, Islenia Millen, and Megan Tatem for your beautiful pieces!

Design to Divest | Manifesto and Workbook - My Framer Site Àròko Cooperative is a multidisciplinary creative community reimagining art and design as a social practice.

You can also purchase a physical copy of this manifesto with an accompanying workbook on our website.

www.aroko.coop/product/desi...

Design to Divest A manifesto on how to design for divestment

And of course, tear all this shit down as needed. If you want to read the manifesto in its entirety (and see some stunning illustrations), you can find it at www.designtodivest.org

Illustration by Megan Tatem that depicts the following: Placed on a solid black background are three purple dotted circles positioned in the center, expanding from smallest to largest. Four parallel black lines are crossing over each other, in the form of an “X”, placed in the center. A ribbon-like design with black gradient shine is interwoven in all three circles. Number 7’s hidden within the design to signify the 7th principle, in the manifesto.

Design is circular.

Ancestral and indigenous design practices regenerate and harmonize with nature and span multiple generations. A design process never truly ends; it is always ongoing. We reject the linear approach and the notion of "failure" and see circular opportunities to modify.

Illustration by Islenia Millen that depicts thin yellow lines formulating into five people, interconnected with one another, each having 2 black circles for cheeks. The color black filling in the design of the five people, with a grainy blackish-grey background. There are two people at the bottom, both facing opposite ends of each other. Three people are placed above, with the person in the center facing forward, with hands encapsulating a glowing yellow orb. Illustration implies that one doesn’t exist without the other.

Design for mutual care.

Care for self must align with care for community, care for society, and care for the environment. We adhere to needs, not standards, and reject the notion that design is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ based on rigid aesthetics instead of how it serves a need.

Illustration by Aaron Marin that depicts a solid black background, with a large pink circle set closer to the top. a series of photographs and images joined together to form one large constructed image. Images listed in the order they were placed. A black and white photo of black children learning together, placed in a circular frame. Followed by black & white image of the bottom half of a black woman’s face, from the neck up to the nose. Underneath are black hands folded over each other. To the left is an image of a black woman from the 1920s with a decorative hat on. Beneath are three men in white ceremonial robes, one holding an open book—. The Adinkra symbol of cooperation and interdependence is to the right of the hands. Lastly underneath, is a black statue placed to the right.

Create with community.

By community we mean cross-cultural, cross-generational and cross-spiritual collaboration and sharing. We never design alone; we co-create across generations and understand the interconnected nature of our decisions through time and experiences.

Illustration by Franco Égalité that depicts a gradient background of the color black fades downwards into a bright yellow. Five humans in their natural form, holding each other upwards, linked in arms. Framed by a glowing circular graphic device.

Dignify through design.

Design should create the conditions for dignity for everyone and should not be used as a tool for dehumanization. We reject ableism, work to eliminate barriers to equity, and constantly seek out the voices of the most vulnerable to inform our decisions.

Illustration by Diana Ejaita that depicts abstracted depictions in red, black, and gray of people interwoven and coexisting with a variety of different shaped plants. Signifies the potential for harmony between flora and fauna.

Be ecocentric over egocentric.

An Ecocentric approach acknowledges the interconnectedness and interdependence of humans, and more-than-humans: animals and plants; land, water and air; materials and artifacts. To save the planet means we design to preserve our place within it.

Illustration by Medar de la Cruz that depicts a purple and black comic vignette of a city street corner with a variety of people in motion, all of whom share the same almond-shaped eye. Their eyes symbolize the knowledge they share as locals. The phrase “respect the locals” in white and black bold lettering is slanted diagonally in the bottom center.

Respect the locals.

Indigenous communities hold the knowledge of their land through generations of experience and existence; this knowledge is sacred and provides a foundation to build on, not one to erase.

Illustration by Rachel Domond that depicts a hand rendered in black and gray, holding up aspects of nature and a skyline with a bright yellow sun beaming behind it. Symbolizes the newly imagined world of the harmony between urban living and nature. The word “Divest”, in black lettering, is centered at the bottom of the illustration.

Divest.

By divest we mean depriving systems of dehumanization and oppression of influence and power. Divesting from the now creates liberated minds in action. A liberated mind can embrace the joy of limitless possibilities to imagine and create the world as one needs it to be.

The following principles guide our work, and can maybe guide yours too. This is how we Design to Divest. #designtodivest #arokocooperative #design #divest

52.pdf | Are.na

you can also find us on are.na where we post bangers like this~ #blacksky #design #coop #arena

#AddToBlackSky 👀

We are available for work of all types! Whether you need a new brand, a publication designed, a package for your new album, or assistance building out an exhibition, we have you covered. If you’re interested in working with us, please get in touch at contact@aroko.coop.

Hello bluesky 👋🏽 we're Àrokò Cooperative. We have a lot to share with y'all, but figured we should introduce ourselves first.

What’s for you is yours. What’s for me is beautifully and divinely mine.

Flyer with white text on a black, patterned background that reads "THE POWER OF NINE. A PANEL DISCUSSION ON COLLABORATION WITH MEMBERS OF AROKÒ COOPERATIVE. Join us for a discussion around collective design practices with Arokò Cooperative. We'll be discussing our process working as a non-hierarchical design team and celebrating five years as a collective." The event is happening at 4pm PST on February 28th at Alkalai Rai in Oakland California.

seems like y'all are pretty interested in a black owned design and publishing coop huh? well come see us in oakland next week for a pop-up with all kinds of goods as well as a panel on how we operate. we hope to see you there!

It’s nice they let these guys get their zoomies out before the Kendrick Lamar concert

I want them.

Pink flyer with PROTECT TRANS KIDS in three different typefaces, with a broken CD faded into the background

made this last year but its definitely time to do a new batch of protest flyers and sticker designs

I hope February is more kind to all of us, truly

If you‘re on Bluesky looking for alternatives to what Meta and Musk have on offer, check out are.na – by far the absolute best platform and run by wonderful people @are.na

WELCOME AQUARIUS SEASON! AHEAD OF YOUR TIME AS AN EXTREME SPORT! APATHY IS OUT! FREEDOM AS A LOVE LANGUAGE! ORGANIZE! REVOLUTIONIZE! FUTURIZE! REFUSE TO OBEY IN ADVANCE! CEASEFIRE IS THE FLOOR! COLLECTIVE LIBERATION IS THE GOAL! LIFE IS SHORT! THE OLIGARCHY IS HERE! NEVER LET THEM STEAL YOUR JOY!

So many beautiful things have been flowing into my life. I say I can do something then I do it. I write it down and I make it come true. And it feels so good.

“will this be the year
earth refuses to forgive us…”

-Audre Lorde in “Out of the Wind”