Over the years, the studio has also worked with some of the biggest names in tech, entertainment and sports, like Google, Netflix, Instagram, Dropbox, Apple, Disney, Hulu, and National Geographic. Despite all the success, working towards an industry with equal opportunities doesn’t come without roadblocks. The death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 became a catalyst for increased diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across companies in the US and globally. However, recent years have seen growing criticism, reaching a peak earlier this year when Donald Trump signed a slew of executive orders rolling back DEI initiatives. “When hostility toward DEI grew louder, we didn’t retreat,” says Ricardo. “This year, we made a conscious decision to treat that backlash as fuel. Instead of softening our position, we doubled down, because the industry needs inclusivity now more than ever.”
Looking forward, BIEN wants to continue to create opportunities and educate audiences through workshops and scholarships. And in the long term? “We want to see new design trends, fresh creative output, business results for our clients, while simultaneously creating social change. There’s no room for thinking that the creative and advertising industries are shallow and don’t contribute to the greater good,” says Ricardo. “We’re working towards a future that normalises diversity. A world where equal opportunities are created, and that respectfully include members of the global majority on-screen and behind the scenes.”