Google Celebrates Diversity and Visibility on Pixel

For the sixth season of Creator Labs, a visual arts incubator for photography or lens-based artists, Google Pixel invited 23 creatives to tell their stories using the Pixel phone camera. This April, coinciding with Diversity Month, they showcased the final projects of these select creatives.  

What is “Seen on Pixel” and Real Tone software? 

Back in February, Google Pixel launched an advertising campaign for the Super Bowl called “Seen on Pixel.” The ad showcased the Pixel 6’s Real Tone capabilities, which enable users to take pictures of darker skin tones that have historically been excluded from camera testing (resulting in unflattering, obscured photographs). Real Tone software has made camera and image products more equitable to people of color through improved “camera tuning models and algorithms to accurately highlight the nuances of diverse skin tones.” 

Creator Labs artists celebrate their diversity on Pixel 

In Google’s largest Creator Labs incubator to date, they selected artists from a diverse set of identities, backgrounds, and communities to address this year’s prompt: what it means to be “Seen on Pixel.”  

Some of the artists focused the project inward, highlighting their individuality and culture through self-portraits. One Indigenous artist from Honolulu Hawai’i, Coyote Park (he/they), wanted their art to empower fellow Indigenous transgender youth, noting that they want them to know that they are “powerful and beautiful.” 

Other creators, like Shikeith and Lawrence Agyei, elected to show what it means to be “Black, queer, and spiritual,” in their work. 

The project gave visibility to a wide range of identities, from tradition to memory to “chosen” families, and showcased Pixel’s unique Real Tone capabilities.  

What made this a great diversity & inclusion campaign? 

It shows all kinds of diversity 

This year’s prompt, “Seen on Pixel,” empowered artists from different races, ages cultures, and identities to give visibility to what was most important to them. Rather than focusing on one definition of diversity, the project lends itself to promoting intersectionality and inclusion of a multitude of backgrounds. Having a campaign like this is not only crucial to creating an inclusive customer base, but it is essential to attracting the best talent for your business. 

This campaign is a continuation of a longer commitment to D&I 

Not only is this campaign compelling on its own, but it is also a small part of Google’s longer and larger commitment to diversity and inclusion initiatives. The Creator Labs Photo Fund has been a consistent resource for photography and lens-based artists since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and has offered a unique opportunity for individuals to share their voices using Pixel as a medium.  

It creatively showcases Pixel Real Tone’s capabilities 

From face detection to auto-white balance software, a commitment to diversity is baked into the actual product that Google is promoting. Their digital narrative is contiguous with their product development, and they show it through a series of demo videos, testimonials, and expert collaborations. 

How can you bolster your businesses’ diversity and inclusion campaigns? 

We know how important diversity and inclusion campaigns are for businesses of every size and industry, but where should you start? In our recent blog: “How Strong is Your Diversity and Inclusion Strategy,” our VP of Sales Luke Bishop breaks down the key reasons why a D&I program is crucial, where you should start, and how you can build on existing programs going forward. 

Beyond that, make sure that your digital presence—whether it’s your site, content, social media presence, or virtual events—is fully aligned with your internal diversity and inclusion initiatives and values.  

Other helpful D&I resources: 

• How to Be a Purpose-Driven CEO  
• Diversity vs. Inclusion: What’s the Difference? 
• 5 Steps to a Successful Diversity Recruitment Program  

Contact Investis Digital  

Ready to start your digital Diversity & Inclusion journey? Head to our blog for more on corporate communications or contact us here.