Azeez Alli-Balogun, 2022 ArtCenter Alumni Award, Young Innovator Award

Azeez Alli-Balogun (MS 18 Industrial Design) has received the 2022 ArtCenter Alumni Award for Young Innovator. As Head of Design at the XQ Institute, Alli-Balogun leads product design of a transformative educational architecture to make high school education more equitable. He's also the co-founder and President of Aroko Cooperative, where he harnesses his passion for design to drive social impact by highlighting African and Indigenous cultures.
Throughout his career, Alli-Balogun has consistently championed inclusivity. At Netflix, he developed globalization tools that enhanced the platform's cultural inclusiveness, while in previous roles, he infused equity and humanity into the development of machine learning tools.
Alli-Balogun's endeavors underscore his belief in the power of design and technology as tools for social change. His work is a testament to his commitment to making a significant impact in the lives of others, guiding every project with a principle of care and a vision for a more equitable world.
Director & Editor: Rahat Mahajan (MFA 16 Film)
Producer: Christine Spines
Special Thanks: Keiko Doi
Motion Graphics: Mohit Sebastian
Camera (Interview): Farhad Ahmed Dehlvi
B-Roll: Rahat Mahajan
B-Cam (Interview): Joshua Kang
Location Sound: Deyo Forteza
Associate Producers: Keith Wang & Gloria Valdez
Co-Editor: Corey Howard
Sound Mix: Jeremy Jung
Art Center MGX: El Ogrodova (BFA 11 Graphic Design)
More on ArtCenter Alumni Awards: bit.ly/4carono