Rene Payne
Womxn @ Work 2024

“As a womxn of color, I rest under trees of my ancestors that I did not plant. 
I honor the legacy of womxn who came before me, knowing my steps are ordered by God.

My mother was born in this country after my grandparents migrated from Trinidad. She had a heart for the arts and sciences, pursuing work in cancer research and helping develop the pap smear for womxn.

My parents were actively engaged in the plight of desegregation and the passing of the Civil Rights Bill. As a result, Teaneck, NJ, was the first town in the nation to vote for integrated schools. My older sister was the youngest of 11 Blacks to integrate into the Whittier School District. My mother would drive her daily as busing was not zoned or available. The actions of that era would set a foundation for pioneering, not following, for me and my sisters.”

The path to RISD for Rene Payne (she/her) started in 1977 when her high school art teacher, John McPhee IL 68, encouraged her to take Saturday morning figure drawing classes here. After graduating from RISD years later with a BFA in Graphic Design, she forged a distinguished career as a design director and executive at a series of in-house design groups in the major Boston firms—Heller Breene, Cipriani Kremer Design and Arnold Worldwide—all while raising three children.

Payne is currently the founder and director of Included, using her design strategy and life experience to break down antiquated social and cultural barriers. The recipient of numerous design awards, she is the first African American woman to be inducted into the RI Design Hall of Fame. She serves on the national advisory board of Studio 50/50, formed by Design Within Reach founder Rob Forbes, which provides mentorship and support to Black entrepreneurs in the United States.

Over the past decade, Payne has come full circle back to RISD. She has served as a diversity fellow and supported internal social equity initiatives connected to the RISD Social Equity and Inclusion plan, the MLK Series, and RISDiversity. She has also been an advisor and active mentor to Project Thrive students
and graduates.

Rene currently teaches in the Graphic Design department at RISD, where she continues to pay it forward with the next generation of creative talent.