Cofounded by creative strategist Kristin Lueke and creative director Nermin Moufti, the Chicago-based design firm Field of Practice emerged from the ashes of the COVID-19 pandemic and related professional burnout. “The pandemic brought so much to the surface in so many industries [that] the facade of ‘business as usual’ was crushing us: We didn’t want to go back to normal. We wanted to change everything,” say Lueke and Moufti. “We founded this studio in the spirit of embracing change and to experiment in pursuit of a more generative, sustainable balance.” Named for a concept by Zen priest Reverend angel Kyodo williams, Field of Practice incorporates many diverse influences into its research-based practice, including designers like Reza Abidini, Roderick Grant and Wael Morcos; design activist Thaly Germain; and the works of surrealist poet Shira Erlichman. But also, driven by the philosophies of activist and writer adrienne maree brown, the design studio finds its strongest influences in transformational justice and liberation movements around the world to include radical change at its foundation. “We are a member-owned studio; we make decisions collectively and practice equitable, transparent compensation,” say Lueke and Moufti. “We do our best to stick to a four-day work week: we believe our best work comes when we can be our whole selves. We trust the wisdom of our lived experiences as women of color in the United States and work with people who treat us with respect and care. [Change isn’t] such a wild proposition once you start trying.”