Black Youth Digital Design Accessibility Initiative

TODAYS CHALLENGES

Black culture has visibly influenced all aspects of pop culture and mainstream media. Today, cultural appropriation is not taken lightly, and the Black community recognizes the need for jobs and equal representation in positions of power. With the growing need for remote work solutions due to COVID-19, the creative industry has gravitated towards 3D technology and digital design. This is a clear opportunity for Black Canadians of all backgrounds (including the intersection of see section 9) to advance their social and economic influence in this field. However, basic hardware and software costs limit the access for Black people, especially as a result of the pandemic.

According to Selig Center for Economic Growth, the Black community’s buying power was $1.4 trillion (USD) in 2019, and it’s projected to grow to $1.8 trillion by 2024, which continues to shape their social and economic influence. Likewise, the global 3D animation market size was valued at $13.75 billion in 2018 and is expected to expand to $28.3 billion from 2019 to 2025. This is attributed to technological advancements in 3D animation technology, emphasis on producing High-Definition videos, and wide usage of 3D animated videos. The increasing adoption of 3D modeling is also driving market growth. 3D modeling is used for various end-use applications, including video games, Virtual Reality applications, 3D printing, motion pictures, marketing, design, manufacturing, and scientific and medical imaging. For instance, laboratories and research facilities worldwide are using 3D animation as part of the developing process for treatments and medicines.In Canada alone, visual effects and animation services for audiovisual works generated 59.0% of total industry sales in 2017, while 3D visual effects and animation services for audiovisual works added another 11.0%. Domestic clients accounted for 82.1% of total industry sales in 2017, up from 79.3% in 2015.

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