Practice Overview — Esther Y. Kang

Esther is a seasoned, award-winning practitioner with 10+ years of experience leading multi-disciplinary teams in cross-sector US initiatives that aim for a more equitable, accessible and sustainable place. Recent collaborators include Vera Institute of Justice, Bloomberg Philanthropies' What Works Cities, New Jersey Office of Innovation, and the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (Obama Administration). Examples of projects include resident-centered unemployment services for the state of New Jersey, equity-centered city budgeting practices (in South Bend, IN and San Jose, CA), and equity-centered housing policies for the state of New York. The latter gained recognition with a Route Fifty Navigator Award (2019).

Esther selectively takes on consulting projects that aim to set the conditions for the development of infrastructures that result in equitable and sustainable outcomes. Esther creates bespoke methodologies per project due to the belief that frameworks, methods, and templates are mere starting points and should be customized to the context or completely re-designed altogether. This entails surveying history and landscape to understand the best suited point of departure. This ethos draws from design-driven processes, social sciences, and critical theory. It grounds itself in participatory practices to realize new community-oriented, transition-conscious realities.

Some of Esther’s recent notables include being interviewed for Squads, a docufilm on change instigated by design (teams) produced by InVision Productions; invited to speak on the ‘Women in Politics Fostering Digital Inclusion’ panel hosted by the UN Commission on the Status of Women & The Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s NY Office; selected to be part of The Decelerator—a residency for creatives managed by The Strange Foundation; and named a disruptor in art, culture and philanthropy by CSQ Magazine as part of their annual 40 under 40 & NextGen 10 lists for 2018.

Esther’s work was also highlighted by several local and national organizations and news outlets. Local coverage includes NY Attorney General’s Office, WENY News, and WIVB News. National coverage includes WIRED, GT (government technology), Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities, and (Obama) White House.

Esther earned a Ph.D. in design from Carnegie Mellon University, MA in social design at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), BFA with concentrations in art theory and photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), and transferred from Pasadena City College (PCC). She is a second generation Korean American who was born in Detroit, MI and grew up in Dallas, TX + Los Angeles, CA with brief periods in Perth, Western Australia and Durban, South Africa. Esther is the eldest daughter of immigrants and granddaughter of refugees with extended family in Germany, Australia, Zambia, and Korea. She draws the most inspiration from their resilience, wisdom, and humor.

Reach out if you’d like to chat about collaborating or just to connect: eyk@estherykang.com