designmatters | Where art & design education meets social change.

Welcome to Designmatters at ArtCenter College of Design
Where art & design education meets social change.
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Shield Makers
ArtCenter students design protective face shields to assist medical workers caring for those affected by Covid19.
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2020 Census: Information Graphics to Overcome Participation Barriers
Using data associated with the Census 2020, ArtCenter students created multidisciplinary projects to promote participation in the upcoming census, targeting populations that are typically undercounted.
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The Designmatters Minor in Social Innovation
The Designmatters Minor in social innovation is a course of study for ArtCenter undergraduate students who want to master a toolkit of design skills and strategies to navigate the complex dynamics of working with communities and designing for social change.
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Adaptive Design Planning: Sea Level Rise in Long Beach Communities
This DesignStorm challenged transdisciplinary ArtCenter students to address the impact of rising sea level on the Long Beach communities of Belmont Shore, Naples Island and the Peninsula.
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Designmatters Project Archive
List of all Designmatters Case Studies in Chronological order.
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Building Trust, Bridging Divides: Visual Communication/Branding Programming for the LBPD
This studio challenged transdisciplinary students to develop a visually compelling and technology-infused awareness campaign and branding program, to build understanding and empathy between the LBPD and the diverse communities of Long Beach.
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Smart Image/Social Impact: Myth vs. Reality in the Immigration Debate
Illustration students worked with United We Stay (UWS), a nonprofit immigrant advocacy organization, on their final projects to debunk the myths surrounding immigrants in America.
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Seeing the Unseen: Visualizing Flow Patterns of Mesopelagic Ocean Eddies
ArtCenter students design interactive data visualization projects based on the elusive underwater movement patterns of ocean eddies.
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COANIQUEM: Safe Niños: Co-creating Innovative Healing Environments for Children
Student teams co-created playful and therapeutic environments that will welcome young burn patients and their families at COANIQUEM’s two satellite campuses spread far across the expansive country: Antofagasta (in the north) and Puerto Montt (south).
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Fellowship Program
The Designmatters Fellowship Program embeds top ArtCenter students in host organizations for one full 14-week academic term to work on high-level projects and explore the mission, model and meaning of the host organization’s work.
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Designmatters + ArtCenter Extension
Designmatters is partnering with ACX / ArtCenter Extension for the first time this Summer to offer an online course for Teens.
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CONGRATULATIONS SPRING 2020 DESIGNMATTERS MINOR IN SOCIAL INNOVATION GRADUATES!
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Introduction

The Designmatters educational platform at ArtCenter College of Design joins collaboration with experimentation, experience with reflection, problem-solving with problem-discovery, and purpose with action.

Our Mission

Through research, advocacy and action, Designmatters engages, empowers and leads an ongoing exploration of art and design as a positive force in society.

Recent News

Spring 2020 Student Leadership Award Recipient Mana Koike

ArtCenter / May 2020

Designmatters Offers First ArtCenter for Teens Class this Summer

“I have been impressed with our student’s ability to create thoughtful design narratives, that can literally change the trajectory of people’s lives, whether it’s on a humanitarian level, or emotional, psychological level.”
James Meraz, Environmental Design Faculty

COANIQUEM: Safe Niños: Co-creating Innovative Healing Environments for Children

Adaptive Design Planning: Sea Level Rise in Long Beach Communities

2020 Census: Information Graphics to Overcome Participation Barriers

“Each student brings individual life experiences, diverse cultural upbringings, varied interests and perspectives to the subject displaying the many ways see and converse about a problem.”
Krystina Castella, Faculty, Product Design

Designing Democracy: The Future of Civic Engagement

Spring 2018 - Host Department: Humanities & Sciences

Communicating the Wellbeing of a City with Santa Monica

Socially Engaged Art - Art in Urban Community Green Spaces

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DESIGNMATTERS MINOR IN SOCIAL INNOVATION

A transcripted course of study for ArtCenter undergraduate students in social innovation

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

ArtCenter students are embedded in host organizations for one full 14-week academic term to work on high-level projects.

"Cultural production and design must go hand in hand as we seek to improve the condition of our world."
Najeeba Syeed-Miller, Western Justice Center Foundation