We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Antoine Thomas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Antoine below.

Antoine, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Any thoughts around creating more inclusive workplaces?

I think creating a more inclusive workplace goes beyond trying to insert checked boxes into systems that weren’t built with inclusivity in mind in the first place. It goes beyond hiring — It requires ensuring existing tools and processes are inclusive, because without that, the company just made its newest employee’s job that much harder. There’s invisible work, the work that has to take place in order to do the actual job, we as minorities do when we enter spaces predominately filled by people who don’t have similar life experiences. Am I going to be tapped to host the inaugural Black History Month celebration? Do I need to educate my new team about pronouns and gender identity and expression? Do I need to request a ramp for my wheelchair? We prepare for the micro-aggressions before they come so when they do, we’re not caught off guard. That’s exhausting. I’ve been the only Black person, the only Black man, or the only bisexual person in plenty of spaces and it’s uncomfortable and unfair. Even when people are looking to do good, it’s unfair because it puts that extra work on our shoulders. I think companies should audit their systems and processes, work with organizations with a track record in helping foster inclusive environments, and have an open door policy for employees to anonymously volunteer their thoughts in how workplace culture can shift. Then actually take action.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I launched West 7th Design Studio (w7th) in 2009 while at Howard University after shifting my major from Business Administration to Graphic Design during my junior year. My passion for art and technology was initially discouraged but a series of adversities — including health issues and a scholarship loss — pushed me to finally pursue design as a career.

Originally, w7th served as a platform for practical experience and to supplement my education, however, as projects multiplied, the need for a team became evident. As the team expanded, w7th transformed into a unique space where young, Black designers could plan, lead, and complete projects end-to-end, defying the norm. As a Black bisexual man, my discomfort with conventional norms has fueled my commitment to drive change. My focus lies in cultivating inclusivity and implementing equitable leadership practices. The Studio serves as a consistent reminder that our perspectives on relationships and the nature of work are in constant flux, especially in our increasingly interconnected world.

w7th is now an award-winning team of creative, intersectional designers who help businesses transform into human-centered brands. With over a decade of experience, we’ve infused our expertise, unique viewpoints, and diverse backgrounds into brand strategy, digital design, and UI/UX development. Our commitment to creative problem-solving is evident in our creation of digital touchpoints and experiences that facilitate stronger connections between clients and their audiences.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I find that if I give my team a solid organizational process to work within, the tools and information they need individually, and the space to do the work, amazing things happen. I do my best to make sure everyone knows that they themselves are valued and appreciated, not just their work. We check in with each other after projects to share lessons learned and make adjustments to processes if necessary. If something doesn’t work, we address it and fix it together. We spotlight both individual and Studio accomplishments because the Studio doesn’t work without people. And people are happiest when treated like people, not cogs in a machine.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

2016 was probably one of the worst years of my life. I lost my cousin, my best friend Kenneth, and my dad within a 6-week span and it broke me. I lost my first best friend, Tereston, 2 days after my 21st birthday in 2010, and these losses ripped open that wound and poured salt in it. In 2010, I threw myself into work. I had just started the Studio and changed my major, so I used my grief as fuel — To build something Tereston would be proud of. Probably not the healthiest thing, but we do the best we can with the tools we have. In 2016, I didn’t have that drive. I lost my “why.” What’s business when your world has crumbled around you? I took some time to process and rethink a lot of the ways I operated, personally and professionally. My team and I sat down and talked through what we wanted to see for the future and mapped out plans to get there. In a sense, it felt like starting over or being reborn out of the ashes. The Studio established The MPWR Foundation, which focuses on community outreach in line with our values. Our Foundation’s latest initiative, the Kenneth D. Wiggins G.NIUS Grant, is a micro-grant aimed at aiding Black entrepreneurs in the creative and tech sectors. The grant supports products, services, and initiatives designed to positively impact Black communities. I’m still working through grief, I think that’s a life-long journey, but I’m doing my best to transform it into something useful for others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://w7th.com
• Instagram: @Rex.Mare / @w7th
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/w7th/

Image Credits
Cleavon Meabon, IV Kollin Benson