Our Projects
As designers, we wear several hats on projects: organizers, conveners, visionaries, researchers, project managers, curators, facilitators, instructors, reviewers, strategists, communicators, observers, and advocates, etc.
PARK(ing) DAY
The number of parks throughout Philadelphia increases dramatically each year on the third Friday in September, when activists, artists, architects, and other citizens transform metered parking spaces into temporary public parks. Known as PARKing) Day, this annual event re-imagines the possibilities of 160 square feet of public space. The event celebrates parks and other public spaces in cities across the country, and raises awareness of the need for more pedestrian-friendly spaces in our urban areas.
PHL250 Leave A Legacy
A public call for projects, an incubation program, and developing a legacy community. The project submissions—by the people, and for all people—reflectibold ideas, initiatives or innovations promising to have a positive, transformational impact in Philadelphia neighborhoods and leave a lasting legacy to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. Select projects were then facilitated into a four-month incubation program to support project implementation plans through workshops, mentorship, and support sessions.
Jefferson’s Architecture & The Built Environment Academy
A virtual pre-college design course for high school students to explore the architectural design fields including architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, construction management, and real estate development. Juniors and seniors will learn from Jefferson faculty, alumni, and industry professionals, while participating in design projects, research projects and firm visits conducted in an online environment.
Through hands-on and real-world learning, participants will have the opportunity to explore the architectural fields and look at different study options and career pathways. Working with Jefferson faculty, alumni and current college students, participants build a deep understanding of the architecture and related design fields. Each participant are assigned mentors from the architecture, design and construction industry helping them beyond this experience.
Design A.I.D.: Outdoor Learning Spaces Design Guide
School districts all over the country are challenged with how to safely reopen schools. While this crisis presents many challenges, this is a unique opportunity to rethink how we use our school facilities. The Community Design Collaborative is uniquely positioned to connect school communities with talented designers from the Philadelphia area and beyond to envision inexpensive and flexible outdoor learning environments.
This Guide provides detailed examples that will provide schools, and other community groups, with inspiration for creating unique and engaging outdoor learning models which may be fabricated and installed by the school community–ideally with input and participation from the students themselves –and then replicated anywhere and used far into the future, beyond the pandemic.
DesignPhiladelphia Festival
A 10-day festival that happens every October. The festival is produced by the Center for Architecture and Design in order to highlight Philadelphia as a hub for design excellence, support economic opportunities for local designers, and demonstrate to the public the impact of design on our everyday lives.
Developed inaugural features:
Best in Emerging Design (2018, 2019) / DP KidsFest (2018, 2019) / One Thing (2019) / Digital Storytelling Series (2019-2020) - sharing features that aim to delight, inform, and educate.
Youth + Family Workshops
The Center for Architecture and Design (the Center) hosted K-12 programming in various design education formats: monthly Read + Make Family Workshops (recommended for ages 5-12 with caretaker), school visits, tours, and mini-workshops at the Center, DesignPhiladelphia KidsFest, and partner on-site workshops (including The Oval and Gateway at the Greenhouse).
Designing Motherhood: A Century of Making (and Unmaking) Babies (Extraordinary Connector + Venue Exhibition Collaborator)
A book, an exhibition, a series of public programs, a design curriculum, and more. It is also a collaboration of people, thought leaders Maternity Care Coalition, and partner institutions, with the support of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
Urban Consulate Philadelphia Tactical Urbanism: Diplomacy Edition (Special Guest)
Additional Credits:
Founding Producer of Fast Forward >> Philly
An annual DesignPhiladelphia event with lineup of presenters from various creative backgrounds Fast Forward through 20 slides at 20 seconds each to answer one question: What's next for Philly?
Creative Mornings Theme 103: Matriarchy - Philadelphia (Guest Speaker)
Establishing a New Centennial Exhibition (Initial Project Manager + Curator)
2020 marks the anniversary of women winning the right to vote in public elections in the United States. Including women in the democratic process was a significant step towards fairness, however realizing true equality for all has yet to come.
Through the design process, designers focus on the end-users to solve problems and improve experiences. By addressing different perspectives, design can move us towards a more equitable society.
Through this exhibition, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, DesignPhiladelphia, with guest curator, Christine Tan (Fork Spoon) is showcasing projects that look to establish a new equitable future.