Ken Tanabe is a public speaker
Photo from Global PR Summit
I speak about creating social change through graphic design, often with a focus on building multiethnic community. I have spoken at events including the HOW Design Conference, the Global PR Summit, and the Critical Mixed Race Studies conference. I have presented at universities such as Harvard, Columbia, NYU, UC Berkeley, and Parsons School of Design. I have also spoken at many cultural/creative events at places like the Museum of Chinese in America and the Brooklyn Historical Society.
Panelist
Photo: Pearl Shavzin-Dremeaux
I have been a panelist at events and conferences like the Global PR Summit and the Critical Mixed Race Studies conference.
Moderator
Photo: Pearl Shavzin-Dremeaux
I have moderated discussions and Q&A sessions at Harvard, Columbia University, New York University, and more.
Interviewer
Photo: Willie Davis
I have interviewed performers and authors at events hosted by the Museum of Chinese in America and Barnes and Noble.
Prior Speaking Engagements
| Venue | Event | Role |
| Crypto for the Culture (the "first ever diversity crypto conference") | Success Stories Pt. 2 | Moderator |
| Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) | Guest speaker: Design for Social Impact (Certificate Program) | Speaker |
| Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) | Guest speaker: Design for Social Impact (Certificate Program) | Speaker |
| University of California, Berkeley | Community: A conversation with Loving Day (Mixed Month Virtual Conference Series) | Moderator |
| Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) | Guest speaker: Design for Social Impact (Certificate Program) | Speaker |
| Tadaima: A Community Virtual Pilgrimage | Part Japanese, 100% Nikkei | Panelist |
| Japanese American National Museum | "Loving" Film Screening and Panel Discussion (part of "Hapa.me: 15 Years of the Hapa Project" Exhibition) | Panelist |
| Critical Mixed Race Studies Conference at University of Maryland (UMD), College Park | Community Caucus | Moderator |
| School of Visual Arts (SVA) | Guest Speaker: Graphic Design Portfolio (Motion Graphics) Class | Speaker |
| Liberty University: Center for Multicultural Enrichment | Because it Matters Series: Is Virginia Really for Lovers? | Speaker |
| NASPA Annual Conference for Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education | Multiracial Knowledge Community Featured Speaker: Ken Tanabe | Speaker |
| J&J Design (Johnson & Johnson) | Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Manufacturing and Design (WiSTEM2D): Career Journey for Tokyo University | Speaker |
| J&J Design (Johnson & Johnson) | Introduction to Visual Design | Speaker |
| University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Summit (Santa Fe) | Design Your Way to Social Good | Speaker |
| University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Summit (Santa Fe) | Crossing Disciplinary Boundaries Through Design | Speaker |
| School of Visual Arts (SVA) | Guest Speaker: Graphic Design Portfolio (Motion Graphics) Class | Speaker |
| LGBT Community Center (New York) | The Loving Quilt: A People’s Living History of Marriage Equality and Social Justice | Speaker |
| Brown University | Loving Week: Dinner with Ken Tanabe | Speaker |
| PADIS “El Valor de Diseño” (The Value of Design) seminar (Lima, Peru) | Engaging New Audiences Through Experiences | Speaker |
| Ethical Culture Fieldston School (Bronx, NY) | “Festivals and Traditions” Assembly | Speaker |
| School of Visual Arts (SVA) | Guest Speaker: Graphic Design Portfolio (Motion Graphics) Class | Speaker |
| Parsons School of Design | Guest Speaker: Design and Language Class | Speaker |
| Critical Mixed Race Studies Conference at DePaul University, Chicago | Roundtable: The Lived Experiences of Contemporary Mixed Race Couples in the U.S. | Moderator |
| Global PR Summit 2014 (Miami) | How To Create A Mass Movement | Speaker, Panelist |
| A.C.T.O.R. (A Continuing Talk on Race) Series at Busboys and Poets (Washington, DC) | Loving Day with Founder Ken Tanabe | Speaker |
| HOW Design Conference | Design for Non-Profits and Grass Roots Projects | Speaker |
| Smith College | Third Annual Loving Day Celebration | Speaker |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Social Change in Multicultural Communities | Speaker |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | In Remembrance of Loving Day: A Discussion on Interracial Marriage | Speaker |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley Fusion Presents Loving Day 2014 | Speaker |
| School of Visual Arts (SVA) | Guest Speaker: Graphic Design Portfolio (Motion Graphics) Class | Speaker |
| Where Integration Meets Innovation Conference on Public Schools | Creating and Enriching Spaces for Multiethnic Community Dialogue | Speaker |
| School of Visual Arts (SVA) | Guest Speaker: Graphic Design Portfolio (Motion Graphics) Class | Speaker |
| Asian American International Film Festival | Hafu Film Screening | Moderator |
| City University of New York (CUNY BMCC) | Crossing Disciplinary Boundaries Through Design | Speaker |
| The Jewish Museum (New York) | Movies that Matter High School Film Festival: The Loving Story | Moderator |
| Hapa Japan Conference 2013 at the University of Southern California (USC) | A Roundtable Discussion of Community-Based Organizations: History and Prospects | Speaker |
| "How To Be An Ally" Symposium at Smith College | Allies Know Where They Come From: Creating Positive Change Through Knowledge and Compassion | Speaker |
| New York University (NYU) | Loving Day Celebration and Discussion | Speaker |
| College of Wooster | Perceptions of Multiethnic Identity | Speaker |
| Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) | Crossing Disciplinary Boundaries Through Design | Speaker |
| Critical Mixed Race Studies Conference at DePaul University, Chicago | Crossing Borders, Bridging Generations: Exploring Historically Situated Oral Histories of Mixed-Heritage in Brooklyn | Speaker, Panelist |
| Critical Mixed Race Studies Conference at DePaul University, Chicago | An Affective Nation: Moving Multiracialism Forward | Speaker, Panelist |
| Bentley University | Bentley University, What Are You? Loving Day and Multiethnic Identity | Speaker |
| Brooklyn Historical Society | What Are You? A Discussion About Mixed Heritage | Speaker, Panelist |
| School of Visual Arts (SVA) | Guest Speaker: Graphic Design Portfolio (Motion Graphics) Class | Speaker |
| 3rd Ward | Building Communities Through Design | Speaker |
| Japanese American National Museum | Mixed Roots Film and Literary Festival Opening Remarks | Speaker |
| National Coalition on School Diversity Conference at Georgetown University Law Center | Promoting Cross-Racial Contact and Awareness Outside of School | Panelist |
| “How To Be An Ally” Symposium at Smith College | How to Stay Engaged in the Multiethnic Community After Graduation | Speaker |
| Harvard SWAYA Multiracial Issues Conference 2012 at Harvard University | Mixed in the Press 2011-2012: How far have we come since “Loving”? | Speaker |
| Harvard SWAYA Multiracial Issues Conference 2012 at Harvard University | “White Girls Say” Videos on YouTube: What do they say about mixed race? | Speaker |
| Wesleyan University | Wesleyan MIX presents: Loving Day Celebration 2012 | Speaker |
| Columbia University | “Neither Here Nor There” Film Screening and Panel Discussion | Moderator |
| New York University (NYU) Broome Street Residential College | “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” Screening, Dinner, and Discussion | Moderator |
| New York University (NYU) | Loving Day Celebration and Discussion | Speaker |
| University of Maryland, College Park | Loving Day Maryland, hosted by the The Multiracial Biracial Student Association | Speaker |
| Brooklyn Historical Society | Watch & Discuss the groundbreaking 1967 film Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? | Moderator |
| International Center of Photography Museum | The Loving Story: Photographs by Grey Villet | Speaker |
| Museum of Chinese in America | The Hapa Project: A Discussion with Kip Fulbeck | Interviewer, Moderator |
| School of Visual Arts (SVA) | Guest Speaker: Graphic Design Portfolio (Motion Graphics) Class | Speaker |
| Barnes and Noble Tribeca | “Kissing Outside the Lines” with Diane Farr and Loving Day | Interviewer, Moderator |
| Columbia University | Jeff Chiba Stearns’ “One Big Hapa Family” Screening | Interviewer, Moderator |
| Hapa Japan Conference 2011 at the University of California, Berkeley | Presentations from the Community | Speaker |
| Harvard SWAYA Multiracial Issues Conference 2011 at Harvard University | Multiethnic Community Collaboration and Growth | Speaker |
| University of Maryland, College Park | Nancy Clarvit Design Week 2011 | Speaker |
| Anthology Film Archives | Hiroshima Nagasaki Download, New York Premiere, Q&A, and fundraiser concert | MC, Moderator |
| Critical Mixed Race Studies Conference at DePaul University, Chicago | Community based multiracial movements: learning from the past, looking toward the future | Panelist |
| Critical Mixed Race Studies Conference at DePaul University, Chicago | Loving Day Movement and Marriage Equality movement | Panelist |
| School of Visual Arts (SVA) | Guest Speaker: Graphic Design Portfolio (Motion Graphics) Class | Speaker |
| Columbia University | Mississippi Masala: Screening and Discussion | Panelist, Moderator |
| The Sulu Series at the Bowery Poetry Club | Hapa-palooza | Panelist |
| Loving Day Benefit Concert 2009 | Loving Day Benefit Concert 2009 | MC |
| Pecha Kucha Night New York #7 | Loving Day at Solar 1 | Speaker |
| Parsons School of Design, Theresa Lang Auditorium | Parsons MFA Design + Technology Thesis Symposium 2009 Keynote | Speaker |
| New York University (NYU) School of Law | What’s Race Got To Do With It? A Panel Discussion About Obama, Race, and Politics | Moderator |
| Parsons School of Design, Kellen Auditorium | The Fundamentals of Freelancing | Speaker |
| Baruch Performing Arts Center, Engelman Recital Hall | Mixed: A One-Woman Show by Maya Lilly | Panelist |
| New York University (NYU) | Parallel Adele: A Vietnamese Documentary Film Screening with Q&A | Moderator |
| School of Visual Arts (SVA) | Guest Speaker: Graphic Design Portfolio (Motion Graphics) Class | Speaker |
| Parsons School of Design | How To Get a Job in the Film, TV, Motion Graphics, Animation Industries: Discussion and Reel Review (Parsons Reel Workshop) | Speaker |
| American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Conference for Multiracial and Multiple Identities at the Hilton St. Louis, MO | Campus Best Practices for Multiracial and Multiple Identities | Panelist |
| Loving Decision Conference 2007: The Next 40 Years of Multiracial Communities at Roosevelt University, Chicago Campus | Workshop: “Beyond the Conference: Easy and Tangible Ways to Build Community” | Speaker |
| Columbia University | Silences: Documentary Film Screening with Q&A | Moderator |
| Columbia University | Exploring the Hapa Identity | Speaker |
| Columbia University | Our Pride: The Spirit of Black Japanese in Georgia | Moderator |
| Parsons School of Design | Parsons MFA Design + Technology Boot Camp | Speaker |
| Apple Flagship Store Soho | Apple Store Presentation with Freestyle Collective | Speaker |
| MacWorld Conference 2006 at the Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, CA | MacWorld Apple Forum 2006: “Knowledge, Innovation, Imagination” (Freestyle Collective) | Speaker |
| Parsons School of Design | Diverse Perceptions Student Film Festival (hosted by the Parsons Diversity Committee) | Panelist |