WE Design & BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES.
DownCity Design (DCD) is a nonprofit community design studio that helps people develop skills and strengthen their communities by harnessing the creative power of the design process.
Our MISSION
We equip community members with the skills and agency to redesign the world around them, collaboratively working toward a more just and equitable future. We convene people of all ages to learn, create, and collaborate, supporting personal growth and work readiness while addressing real community needs through innovative service projects.
Summer Design Studios 2024: Bench + Mural for WRWC
Our Work
Since our founding in 2009, over 3,500 participants in our free afterschool and summer programs have collaboratively created 130+ permanent amenities for public spaces across Providence, from community gardens and outdoor classrooms to creative play structures for parks.
Our 14 free afterschool and summer design programs engage 250+ underserved teens each year. Working with real community clients, our program participants investigate a genuine challenge, design and test solutions, and fabricate improvements for public spaces. Our newly renovated Community Design Studio at 370 Cranston Street in Providence's West End expands our capacity to serve more youth.
OUR IMPACT
Our free programs help participants develop essential skills and habits of mind. Our latest program survey shows:
91% of students showed increased collaboration skills
98% showed increased problem-solving skills
92% learned to think like designers
89% discovered new career pathways
90% felt they made a positive impact on their community
With more than half of our youth identifying as female or gender-expansive, 91% as BIPOC, and 84% coming from low-income households, DownCity Design is actively working toward a more diverse and inclusive future for design.
Our Work
Since our founding in 2009, over 3,500 participants in our free afterschool and summer programs have collaboratively created 130+ permanent amenities for public spaces across Providence, from community gardens and outdoor classrooms to creative play structures for parks.
Our 14 free afterschool and summer design programs engage 250+ underserved teens each year. Working with real community clients, our program participants investigate a genuine challenge, design and test solutions, and fabricate improvements for public spaces. Our newly renovated Community Design Studio at 370 Cranston Street in Providence's West End expands our capacity to serve more youth.