Design for America

🎉 Exciting News at DFA! 🎉 We are beyond excited to welcome Ward Bullard as our new Director of External Relations! With a deep background in building strategic partnerships and a passion for engaging students and communities, Ward brings a powerful combination of expertise and vision to further our DFA mission. In this role, Ward will play a pivotal part in forging innovative collaborations and driving meaningful connections that amplify our impact. His dedication to fostering student-led initiatives and community-driven change aligns perfectly with DFA’s values. Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Ward! We can’t wait to see the amazing contributions he will make as he strengthens our external relations and helps us grow our network of partners and collaborators.

Thank you to everyone who joined our first Fireside Chat today! 💓 We had a knowledge-sharing discussion around the design-thinking phases in the workplace. Remember, design-thinking is being used frequently, even when you may not know you're using it! Here are some thoughts presented by participants during our session today... 🌟 How do you define the preconceived notion of the data you observed? 🌟 We all have different needs as users at different points in our life. 🌟 How do we represent the atypical users? 🌟 I am more creative in passivity. 🌟 What is the user thinking during testing? Stay tuned for more information on the next Fireside Chat in November!

So excited for our first fireside chat this October! We will have a conversation about each of the design-thinking phases in the workplace. For example, how do you test the solutions in your field? We welcome anyone and everyone to attend this discussion! 🌟 Please email johnshopkins-mica@designforamerica.com for the Zoom link. We hope to see you on Thursday, October 3rd at 12p ET!

Let’s shine the spotlight on our next Special Recognition Laureate: Design for America: student-led social innovation studios on campuses across the United States! 🎓💡These passionate students are transforming big ideas into real-world solutions that tackle today's most pressing social challenges. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/geXg8T2K Design for America empowers students to tackle major social challenges like homelessness, climate change, and childhood illness through the power of design innovation. Rather than being overwhelmed by the complexity of these issues, DFA encourages students to embrace them head-on with creativity and collaboration. By fostering interdisciplinary teamwork, community engagement, and real-world partnerships, DFA trains students—whether they’re designers or not—to approach social problems through Humanity-Centered Design. 💪🌍 At the heart of DFA are its campus studios, where student teams work on extracurricular projects that make a direct impact on their communities. Beyond just solving problems, these projects spark personal transformation, turning students into changemakers on campus and beyond. The skills they gain extend far beyond graduation, equipping them for the workforce and the challenges of tomorrow. 🚀 What’s more, DFA’s tools extend globally. Their DFA Process Guide—written in collaboration with students—has been downloaded thousands of times worldwide, providing designers, faculty, and communities with a step-by-step guide to innovation for good. It’s a free resource that’s making a difference, one project at a time. Check out their incredible work and give them a follow! 👏 🌐 Website: https://lnkd.in/gWx6P9tr 🔗 LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/g-WYjqWS 📸 Instagram: https://lnkd.in/gKdPmNhx ▶️ YouTube (DFA): https://lnkd.in/giGG5fij ▶️ YouTube (Studio Launch Videos): https://lnkd.in/gDgXrsW9 And don’t miss your chance to be part of the DNDA24 HCD+ Summit on November 14-15, 2024, at the beautiful Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego! Amazing speakers, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities await. This is an event you won’t want to miss! 🌟 https://lnkd.in/giYA4jnZ #DNDA24 #DesignForAmerica #SocialInnovation #HumanityCenteredDesign #HCDSummit #summit #award #designaward

As the school year approaches, we are continuing our search for potential collaborators! We are looking for students (JHU or MICA), organizations, businesses, or professionals that are interested in learning about design-thinking. 🤗 Are you a JHU or MICA student that wants real-world experience practicing design-thinking? Are you an organization or business that needs help solving an overwhelming problem? Are you design-thinking professional or faculty member that wants to mentor the next wave? If you are interested, please email johnshopkins-mica@designforamerica.com to learn more! 💖

Please welcome, Bren! 🌟 He is the President for the JHU + MICA Design for America studio this year. He will be overseeing all aspects of projects and events, and will help out with background logistics. Throughout his career, he has worked in a multitude of roles, from Digital Strategy Lead to Policy Researcher. In his spare time, he likes to run, draw with charcoal, and spend time with his husband and doggo. He is also extremely passionate about queer, mental health advocacy. For this upcoming year, he is excited about increasing engagement with students and partners from both JHU and MICA.

Hi friends ✨ We are excited to start the new school year. We have some fun opportunities in the pipeline! Please share this page with others... we want to get as many eyeballs on the studio as possible 👀

Are you entrepreneurial? ✅ Have a curious and inquisitive spirit? ✅ Want to help grow a beloved organization into a new chapter of performance and impact? ✅ Do you thrive at linking relationship-building and revenue development? ✅ Do you bring a sense of daring optimism to the teams you lead and support? ✅ DFA is hiring a Director of External Relations! Check out the role and apply! https://lnkd.in/gB9_d3kJ

60+ countries head to the polls in 2024. Hear global leaders discuss democracy, design, policy, and how our systems serve our people. Sam Pitroda, former advisor to the Prime Minister of India and author of The Idea of Democracy (Penguin, 2024) in conversation with Ivo Daalder, former ambassador to NATO and CEO of the Chicago Council of Global Affairs, moderated by civic designer and ID alum Evan Chan (MDes 2019). In-person attendees can participate in the Q&A and post-event reception. The discussion will also be streamed. Reserve your spot now with the following link. If you wish to attend as a virtual attendee also reserve on this link to receive the streaming link: https://lnkd.in/gWF2Pmep #democracy #Globalaffairs #Humancentereddesign #InstituteofDesign

Partnerships are key to design success and yet we act as if we can do it alone. Design for America undergrads, Sophia Edelstein and Nathan Kondamuri partnered with a local school teacher and school kids to understand why the kids were not wearing reading glasses (answer: kids were being made fun of) around 2016. Since then they have partnered with hundreds of people (kids, teachers, parents, manufacturers, distributers, ophthalmologists, and more). In 2019, they officially launched Pair Eyewear, a company that provides glasses that allow kids (and others) to customize their glasses). And just five years later, they are providing glasses (people want to wear!) internationally. Partnerships were and continue to be key. Thank you to Inc. Magazine to recognizing the role of partners. https://lnkd.in/g-ra_6Rg