Jessica Brown

Jessica Brown is an Associate Professor in the Industrial Design department at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). She holds a MID from RISD and is also known as Lady J Brown, an artist-activist blending performance, design, and social justice. Her work focuses on Afrofuturism, equity, and intersectional topics through multimedia and community-building.

Education: MID in Industrial Design from RISD.

Research interests include using liberatory design frameworks to create inclusive spaces addressing race, gender, class, and human rights. She teaches courses in toy design, activism, and social engagement, also contributing to RISD's Graphic Design program.

Community roles: Member of RISD’s Board of Social Equity & Inclusion (SEI) and Community Engagement Steering Committee. Advocates for critical thinking, empathy, and risk-taking in students.

Labs/teams: Acts as a creative connector and world-builder, integrating art, activism, and design through collaborative projects.