Mission
Our mission is to improve the lives of New Yorkers through the power of design.
desigNYC is a platform that demonstrates the value of design through action. We connect civic-minded designers with extraordinary nonprofits serving the public good. We reveal our impact through great storytelling. Our focus is local. Our approach is multi-disciplinary. Our process is participatory, and community-centric.
A group of design leaders in NYC came together in 2009 to explore how we might tap into the design for social change movement to improve the lives of New Yorkers. Rather than work on global issues, we were drawn to local issues needing local design solutions. We were convinced that through a collaborative design process, we could build community and increase social capital. Our collective response was to create desigNYC. In 2010 we moved from being a 100% volunteer collective towards a sustainable enterprise. We formalized our structure, were incorporated in the State of New York and received our 501(c)(3) designation by the IRS. Our legal name is desigNYC Now, Inc., but we most often operate under the brand name, desigNYC.
For additional information:
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Email us at info(at)desigNYC
Community
desigNYC is a grassroots nonprofit supported by a staff of one and an ever-growing group of amazing volunteers.
LEADERSHIP
Laetitia Wolff, Executive Director
Michelle Mullineaux, Co-founder, Board of Directors
Edwin Schlossberg, Co-founder, Board of Directors
Deborah Berke, Board of Directors
Wendy Goodman, Board of Directors
FOUNDING COMMITTEE
Paola Antonelli, Curator of Architecture + Design, Museum of Modern Art
Karen Auster, President, Auster Agency/BKLYN DESIGNS
Sara Bengur, Principal, Sara Bengur Interiors
Deborah Berke, Principal, Deborah Berke & Partners Architects
James Biber, Partner, Pentagram
Maddy Burke-Vigeland, Partner, Gensler
Wendy Goodman, Design Editor, New York Magazine
Steven Heller, Co-Chair MFA Programs, School of Visual Arts
Zack McKown, Principal, Tsao & McKown Architects
Gabriela Mirensky, Director of Competitions & Exhibitions, AIGA
Michelle Mullineaux, VP Marketing + Business Development, ESI Design
Margie Ruddick, Principal, Margie Ruddick Landscape
Edwin Schlossberg, President & Principal Designer, ESI Design
Lauren Yarmuth, Principal, YRG Sustainability Consultants
2011 JUDGES AND ADVISORS
Paul Alter, Principal, Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership
Sara Bengur, Principal, Sara Bengur Interiors
James Biber, Principal, Biber Architects
Maddy Burke-Vigeland, Principal, Gensler
Ken Carbone, Founding Partner, Carbone Smolan Agency
Allan Chochinov, Partner, Core77
Rachel Crawford, Associate Principal, Carbone Smolan Agency
Liz Danzico, Chair MFA Interaction Design, SVA
Robert Fabricant, Vice President of Creative, Frog Design
Lisa Green, Partner, Selldorf Architects
Steven Heller, Co-Chair MFA Programs, School of Visual Arts
Zack McKown, Principal, Tsao & McKown Architects
Gabriela Mirensky, Director of Competitions & Exhibitions, AIGA
Michelle Mullineaux, VP Marketing + Business Development, ESI Design
Fernando Music, Partner, The Rooster Design Group
Mark Randall, Partner, Worldstudio
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
Liz Danzico, SVA
Laura Des Enfants, D’NA Company
Molly Heinz, The Architect’s Newspaper
Philip Ramirez, Group Gordon
Monica Schaffer, Gensler
Elaine Wrightman, O Magazine
DOCUMENTARY COMMITTEE
Joan McCabe, Documentary Chair
Bob Kanter, Director/Producer
David Christenberry, Production Manager
Don Forschmidt, Director
Kate Glicksberg, Photographer/Videographer
Gabriele Gorden, Photographer
Peter Hollander, Videographer/Editor
Craig Korbel, Editor
Jeremy Mack, Videographer
Theo Morrison, Photographer
Steven Smith, Videographer/Editor/Graphics
Tom Sobolik, Photographer
LEGAL COMMITTEE
Michiel A. Bloemsma, Menaker & Herrmann LLP
Robert F. Herrmann, Menaker & Herrmann LLP
Melissa Billig, Ingram Yuzek Gainen Carroll & Bertolotti, LLP Larry Gainen, Ingram Yuzek Gainen Carroll & Bertolotti, LLP
