This panel will explore the work of two CUNY scholars who are working to promote greater representation in their respective fields of design.  One of the speakers will take the audience through The Design Influencer Poster Project, a three-step process that aims to bridge the gap between context and creation so that students learn about those who created what influences them now—and remarkably, how many of those are overlooked or underrepresented in the cannon of graphic design. The goal of the project explores the traditional principles of design—composition, text, hierarchy, and the grid; however, it is the students’ research of unknown creators that drives the excitement of discovery. After researching the work of a designer overlooked by the canon, they present their findings to the class. The project culminates with designing a tribute poster to their subject. The second speaker is exploring the racial disparities in the architectural profession. Narrowing this disparity begins with providing affordable quality education. As an inner-city, minority-serving institution, City Tech is uniquely positioned to address this need and to contribute to increasing the diversity of the professional community. The presentations will each showcase different aspects of the Department of Architectural Technology at the New York College of Technology (City Tech) that together support pathways into the profession for students who may be disadvantaged by prior educational models.