Facebook's Neisha Tweed to chat about design, social innovation

Neisha Tweed describes her superpower as turning ideas into tangible things.

Tweed, a creative strategist for Facebook, will help others discover their hidden powers Thursday at the 88Nine Radio Milwaukee headquarters. She will also be part of a panel discussion and a workshop for students at Marshall High School on Friday.

Her talk is part of the American Institute of Graphic Arts Wisconsin (AIGA) and Greater Together Spectrum Lecture Series, which brings national designers of color to Milwaukee to discuss design, business and social innovation.

Greater Together, which promotes racial and economic equity in Milwaukee's creative industries, was launched by AIGA, the professional association for design. Proceeds from the event benefit the lecture series.

Through her job at Facebook, Tweed helps advertising agencies and brand marketers create the best content possible.

"It's scary and wonderful how advertising has the power to change people's minds and behavior," Tweed said.

Before starting at Facebook a year and a half ago, Tweed worked at a number of advertising agencies including  mcgarrybowen, Publicis Kaplan Thaler, GlobalHue and Ogilvy & Mather. She strives to help others communicate clearly, beautifully and simply on a mass scale.

She thinks of the "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters that began as propaganda disseminated by the British government during World War II as an example of how design was able to affect culture and people. The posters still resonate with audiences today.

"A powerful message becomes way more powerful based on the way it's delivered," she said.

Tweed said Milwaukee could create greater inclusion by providing more spaces for open conversation.

"There's the same people, or the same types of people, having the same conversation," she said. "Break down those walls a bit and get different people with different backgrounds coming in to have conversations toward the same goal."

She remembers one of her employers holding a town hall discussion following a police shooting of an unarmed black man. The place for dialogue allowed for sharing of stories that brought people out of their silos.

"We need to force ourselves to have uncomfortable conversations," she said.

For people who feel today's problems are insurmountable, she instructs them to create. Tweed said she's inspired daily by posters in the Facebook office that read, "The best way to complain is to make something."

IF YOU GO 

What: An evening of motivation with Neisha Tweed

Where: 88Nine Radio Milwaukee, 220 E. Pittsburgh Ave.

When: 5:30 p.m. Thursday

Admission: $10 donation is suggested

Info:  greatertogether.me