Midwest Design Week Code of Conduct
Midwest Design Week is dedicated to providing a harassment-free virtual conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), or technology choices. Our goal as Midwest Design Week organizers is to create a respectable space for diverse perspectives, thoughtful discussions, and unbound inspiration.
In line with our goal, we do not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form on any of our associated platforms of communication. Sexual language and imagery are not appropriate for any conference venue, including talks, workshops, and other online media. Conference participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the conference without a refund at the conference organizers’ discretion.
Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
- Verbal comments that reinforce social structures of domination (related to gender, gender identity, and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age or religion)
- Sexual images in public spaces
- Deliberate intimidation, stalking or following
- Harassing photography or recording
- Sustained disruption of talks or other events
- Unwelcome sexual attention
- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior
Enforcement
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
If a participant engages in harassing behavior, Midwest Design Week organizers retain the right to take action to keep the event a welcoming environment for all participants, which includes warning the offender or expulsion from the conference with no refund.
Midwest Design Week organizers may take action to redress anything designed to – or with the apparent impact to – disrupt the event or make the environment hostile for any participant. We expect participants to follow these rules at all event platforms and event-related social activities. (We think people should follow these rules outside of event activities too!)
Reporting
If someone makes you, or anyone else, feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it as soon as possible. Reporting harassment and other code of conduct violations help us maintain a pleasant experience for all participants.
To make a report anonymously, fill out this form. While we will not be able to follow up with anonymous reports directly, rest assured that we will thoroughly investigate it and take whatever action is necessary to prevent a recurrence.