My time at Shades of Noir is almost hitting the 18 month mark, and as I look back on my time spent as part of the team, I can’t help but appreciate the challenges that have helped my development and growth, but most importantly, how much further I can still go.
Words by Kerian Magloire
It feels as if I stumbled into Shades of Noir in a hot-rush before becoming an official member of the Shades team as a Content Developer. I was swept up into heated discussions surrounding the contemporary nuances of race and class in post-colonial Britain (London). In particular, the highly documented dispossession of public housing and facilities in the UK’s latest political swindle, power-based dynamics that people of colour are subject to within specialised institutional arenas such as Higher Education (which I had just re-entered after over a decade) and the degrees of securitisation within marginalised communities. With the bit between my teeth, overzealous, and at times overcompensating (cool-posing) – some of the reasons why I already knew, others I was yet to figure out – days after I found myself in a box sized office at Central Saint Martins (CSM) barely big enough to contain Aisha Richards (Shades of Noir Founder/Director & award winning Academic), Montana Williamson (Award Winning Designer, Shades of Noir Phase 1 Team, current Teaching Within Lead & Curriculum Developer) and me.
This first chance encounter would lead to innumerable, influential, and intense conversations that resound every day in importance as I continue to script my personal journey and future. That early first chat lasted nearly an hour and we spoke about Shades, the work they do briefly, each others’ experiences and in particular, mine since returning to education as a ‘mature student’. Uninformed and not convinced by what I then misjudged as Shades ineffective back-door approach, I initially dismissed the possibility of Shades being of any real benefit to my time at Central Saint Martins or thereafter.
Following additional research into the work, practices and policies of Shades, as Aisha initially was reluctant to discuss this when we met and instead she said ‘you go and find out what we do’, I discovered more about their years of work and dedication to creating equality within UAL’s network of academics, students and industry. So, I decided to apply for a Content Developer position, with just enough experience, and still trying to adjust to the demands of my course, I knew that this would not be easy, but I was now convinced by conversations with Aisha and other members of the team that this position was more than a job. I was also joining an extended network that supported student/staff development and personal growth during education and beyond. After a rocky start, my inconsistent content and quality of work, I thought, maybe I took on more than I could handle – but I knew if I could manage to adjust to the demands of the course, Shades, and other external responsibilities, that I would thrive in whatever field I chose to enter after graduating.
As my Shades journey started shortly after I started university, the first, and most valuable lesson I have learned during my time here is to value and validate my unique personal perspective I carry with me going into my course and the prestigious ‘Central Saint Martins’. My lived experiences has given me a lens on a course tethered to art history, the intentionally broad and contested terms of culture and the social sciences. Early on, the Shades team, in particular Aisha Richards and Melodie Holliday (Shades of Noir Editor, Senior Curriculum Designer, artist and Award Winning Academic) helped me understand how to unpack and contextualise the complexity and traditions that inform my identity into essays, reshaping my course-centric requirements to fit ‘me’ and my interests, which eased many of my insecurities. My work with Shades also made me realise that what I bring into the lecture rooms is of equal value to the course material and the white culture that often dominates the spaces at CSM.
As time has passed I have been exposed to the perspectives and the talents of a multi-cultural and interdisciplinary team, I have learned more about the nuanced pedagogical phenomenons from a structural standpoint, the intersectional discourses of identity, my own unconscious biases and misogyny, which has enabled me to start moving away from traditional surface, broad-based party politics. A testament to diversity, social justice work, and the idea of ‘choice’ and true ‘safe dialogic spaces’ creating ever more rewarding environments for learning which Shades of Noir presents. These unique conditions have changed the form and density of my work, how I worked, and the criticality of my opinions which was crucial going into collaborative projects including one with Autograph ABP that evolved later that academic year.
Although my time is not up yet, this feels like a perfect opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved and to show gratitude. I am thankful to be given the opportunity to be a part of an organisation playing such a critical part in ‘progressive’ change within Higher Education and the wider society, as well as their dedication to ensuring the UAL continues to moves towards championing diversity and a creatively evocative “richness” within all their activities. The work of Shades of Noir gives voice to ideas and perspectives from a variety of people of colour and ethnicities with purpose.
I have a year and a half still to go before I finish my degree, and I look forward confidently because of the tools, knowledge and friends I have acquired during my time here so far. . . too be continued 🙂
