How Inneract Project empowers brown and black designers | Figma Blog

Inneract Project, founded in 2004 by Maurice Woods, introduces Black and brown students to design as a path for creative expression, community impact, and future careers. Its curriculum evolved from hands-on paper exercises to professional digital design training as students’ interests shifted toward UX/UI. Figma became especially valuable because its browser-based, free-to-start platform removed cost and access barriers while enabling collaboration and continued practice outside the classroom.

Building a Foundation Through Hands-On Design

• Early courses avoided software and hardware, emphasizing critical and creative thinking through paper-based activities.
• As students requested more formal training, Inneract developed Pathway to Design, a curriculum for students as young as middle school.
• The program initially focused on graphic design, then introduced professional software and hardware.
• Expensive licenses and limited equipment often meant students had to share computers.

Finding Figma

• As the industry moved toward mobile apps and interfaces, Inneract updated its curriculum to teach UX/UI design.
• Figma was free to get started, reducing financial barriers for students and the program.
• Its beginner-friendly tools were also relevant to professional design workplaces.
• Because Figma runs in a browser, students could access their files from libraries, schools, and other public computers.
• Students practiced outside class more easily, accelerating their skills.
• Collaborative Figma projects expanded opportunities to work with classmates, volunteers, and community partners.

Student Growth and Real-World Projects

• Inneract offers workshops, multi-day courses, hackathons, company partnerships, and an expanding student community.
• Students have pursued design education and careers, including graphic design and design research.
• Student projects address practical community needs:
  • Sierra designed a more usable walker concept for elderly people and created a music-focused mobile app.
  • Noah developed an ad campaign supporting homeless youth and created a zine about Oakland graffiti and street art.
  • Leigh created posters and graphics for her high school before studying graphic design.
• The projects demonstrate how early design education can build confidence, creativity, and an interest in solving real-world problems.

Inneract’s experience shows that accessible tools, combined with early mentorship and community-focused projects, can help underrepresented students envision and pursue careers in design.