Starting this week, New York Magazine reported, a newly formed group of do-gooder designers are launching a project to lend worthy social projects some extra style.
DesigNYC, a group of designers, architects, curators, and editors (led by Ed Schlossberg of ESI Design, and including New York's Wendy Goodman) have a pro-bono plan to connect design experts with deserving projects.
The group, which touts the idea as "A better New York by design," explains the idea this way:
"Design impacts our daily lives in smart, ingenious and often unexpected ways," the DesignNYC from the homes we live in, to the public spaces we convene in, to the graphic systems that inform us, and the interactive experiences that connect us...We created desigNYC with the mission of improving life in NYC by connecting community and civic groups in need of design services with professional, pro bono design resources."
Know a place that could benefit from DesigNYC? The organization is actively recruiting project partners to launch a pilot program. Community groups, nonprofits and civic groups in need of a design fix have until November 30 to submit a proposal to the group.
The DesigNYC only requirements are that the applicants must:
- Manage an organization in NYC
- Be in need of design resources
- Have an interest in engaging in a collaborative design process
We hope that if this pilot project goes well, DesigNYC will inspire offshoot organizations around the country.
You can learn more about how to get involved as a designer or a recipient organization by checking out DesigNYC's FAQs. Until then, we're looking forward to the kickoff of the first round of projects in January 2010.