Sunday, September 21st | 1:00 – 2:55 PM
Hosted by SDXD at Nissan Design America
This event is a part of San Diego Design Week 2025.
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How does design shape our experience of the communities we belong to — whether they're neighborhoods, workplaces, or online spaces?
Join SDXD and civic design leader Sheba Najmi for an interactive session exploring how thoughtful, inclusive design can spark community impact, uplift overlooked voices, and create a deeper sense of meaning and belonging.
We’ll begin with a bold prompt: “Imagine this is your community.”
What would you notice? Who would you design for? And how would you understand what they truly need?
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📝 KEY TOPICS COVERED
Through a mix of engaging talk, guided exercises, and group discussion, you’ll explore a human-centered process for:
Identifying opportunities to make a difference in your communities
Co-creating inclusive, people-centered solutions
Uncovering and building upon the hidden strengths within a community
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🚀 AUDIENCE TAKEAWAYS
A deeper awareness of the people who make up your communities, especially those too often overlooked
Practical tools to design with, not just for, others
Real-world examples from San Diego and beyond
Relevant and inspirational insights from Sheba’s new civic design podcast
Whether you're a designer or a community member looking to improve your community experience, this session will help you reimagine what’s possible — and your power to shape it. Come ready to reflect, connect, and co-create the communities you want to belong to.
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🕰️ AGENDA
1:00 PM - Opening Remarks
1:10 PM - Presentation by Sheba Najmi ft. clips from interview with Bennett Peji
1:40 PM - Interactive Workshop
2:10 PM - Group Shareout
2:30 PM - Q&A
2:55 PM - Conclusion
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🚗 VENUE
Nissan Design America
📍9800 Campus Point Dr, San Diego, CA 92121
🅿️Free parking is available on-site
Nissan Design America (NDA) began as Nissan Design International in 1979 in San Diego, established as a satellite studio for Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Its original mission was to provide a local perspective on the North American market and generate innovative ideas and design. After 40 years in operation, NDA is now a full-production automotive design studio capable of handling all phases of automotive design development, from exploratory to production. NDA also has had design support operations in Silicon Valley (California, U.S.) since 2013.
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ABOUT SAN DIEGO DESIGN WEEK
San Diego Design Week (SDDW) is an annual citywide celebration of design, spanning disciplines, perspectives, and communities. SDDW 2025 invites us to explore the theme “Design for Impact” by highlighting the role design plays in shaping the communities we live in. (Sep 17th - 21st)
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SDXD (San Diego Experience Design Professionals Network)
San Diego Experience Design (SDXD) is a catalyst for a vibrant San Diego experience design community. We’re a professional network that spans disciplines, united by a shared passion for creating human-centered products and quality experiences. We host events, workshops, and talks that spark curiosity, enrich skills, make connections, and inspire.