Sixteen students from around the world are converging on New York City to explore how to apply design thinking – the combination of unleashed creativity and executable actions – to pressing social problems. The participants, from as far away as Brazil, Australia and Portugal represent a variety of disciplines and range in experience from graduate level students to seasoned professionals.
The sold out, six week program at the School of Visual Arts will run on two parallel tracks: the first will educate students on how to conceive and execute their own projects for social change with a focus on funding projects that are not client-based. Along with a personal project, students will participate in the development of a team project that addresses a pressing need for a local non-profit organization. On this track, participants will roll up their sleeves to take the program out of the realm of theoretical thinking and extend it into the real world.
Worldstudio recently rolled out the first in a series of workshops for creative professionals that teach funding strategies for socially responsible projects. The initial beginner’s level workshop – which has now taken place in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York and San Francisco – provides an overview of various funding models and addresses how to include corporate sponsorship in social change initiatives. By creating a project budget and marketing plan, attendees get the opportunity to apply new skills to an actual project during the one-day workshop.
Worldstudio and the School of Visual Arts in New York City are launching an exciting six week summer intensive called Impact! Design for Social Change.
Most current efforts in the “social design” space encourage designers to donate time and resources. Although giving one’s talent and time is certainly honorable, it is not a sustainable model. Beginning in January, Worldstudio will begin offering workshops to groups interested in learning how to fund non-client based solutions. The workshop will provide an overview of various funding models and strategies for supporting self-initiated social change work.
Worldstudio is delighted to announce that the 2010 Design Ignites Change mentoring initiative will be developed and implemented in partnership with The Designers Accord, a global coalition of designers, educators and business leaders working together to create positive environmental and social impact.
Core77, has tapped into a diverse group of contributors to publish Hack2Work, a collection of essential advice and tips for design professionals. With articles on topics ranging from process to staffing to client relationships, Hack2Work offers something for everyone – including a piece outlining tips for funding social change projects from Worldstudio’s Andréa Pellegrino.
Mark Randall and Andréa Pellegrino were two of the eleven speakers at this year’s Y Conference produced by AIGA San Diego. Mark and Andréa presented their partnering strategies and recent collaborations on the Urban Forest Project and Design Ignites Change.
Mark and Andréa were also interviewed by Debbie Millman for her weekly live broadcast of the online radio show Design Matters on Voice America Business. Listen to the archived show with Shel Perkins, Liz Danzico and Lorraine Wilde here. Mark and Andréa’s segment begins at the 30 minute mark.
Design Ignites Change was recently featured in an article published on Fast Company’s website. The article was a synopsis of a talk given by Worldstudio principals, Andréa Pellegrino and Mark Randall, at the Y Conference produced by AIGA San Diego.
Worldstudio is thrilled to be working with the City of San Francisco to launch the Urban Forest Project San Francisco this summer. Mayor Newsom recently announced the collaboration at Compostmodern 09 sustainable design conference. Read the full press release here.
The City is bringing this innovative banner program to San Francisco to raise public awareness around greening and tree planting initiatives and education. The Academy of Art University, Adobe Youth Voices and AIGA San Francisco are already on board as key partners on this community-based, public arts and environmental initiative. Once the banners come down, they will be converted into recycled products by students at the Academy of Art University, to be auctioned off to raise money for local tree planting initiatives and education.
At a time when corporations need to be judicious with every marketing dollar, Worldstudio’s socially responsible projects and programs enable corporations to differentiate themselves in a crowded market by connecting with key constituencies in tangible and meaningful ways.
