"It’s not just about the product, it’s about the person, it’s about making real impact.”
Margaux Reynolds, Student, Product Design
"It’s not just about the product, it’s about the person, it’s about making real impact.”
Margaux Reynolds, Student, Product Design
“The two-week experience on the ground in Chile was instrumental. We all felt the same thing; we all saw and experienced the same realities together. We all lived the same moments. And that really helped us later as a design team, as we related our ideas and concepts back to our shared experience.”
Andres Zavala, Student, Environmental Design
"One of the best ways to change public perception is to combine art with science.”
Dr. Jerry Schubel, President & CEO, Aquarium of the Pacific
“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
"A designer’s desire to change the world can be incompatible with empathy, which necessitates relinquishing the impulse to remake the world as it should be in favor of grasping the world as it is for others."
Arden Stern, Faculty, Humanities & Sciences
Created by - Yuki Nori and Grant Higa
"These projects help every design student see what is on the other side, and opens the door to making the impossible a possibility of hope."
Armie Pasa and Gabriel La 'O, Product Design, Students
Video created by Ricardo Imperial Jr. & Isaac Ruiz.
A short film documenting a studio challenge to imagine design in the 2025 product year for lifestyle brand Vans.
"I learned how to work with and for others and how to put the client’s needs above my own. I had to know everything about my target user and create with them in mind."
Jie Gu, Student, Interaction Design
"It is very empowering for designers to see how their projects can actually make an impact in people’s lives."
Liliana Becerra, Product Design, Faculty
A behind the scenes of the Fall 2014, Vans sponsored trans-disciplinary studio and the design challenge of consumer-driven customizations.
"The students were able to grasp the need and the reality of vulnerable communities and translate that information into creative yet realistic ideas. This was a great example of how design can contribute to furthering a cause."
Bianca Lomell, Regional Director for North America, Project Concern International (PCI)
This book documents the third iteration—in Altos del Pino, Bogotá—of the award-winning Safe Agua project addressing water poverty.
"It’s not about me saying, 'Here’s what to do.' It’s about all of us deciding, 'What can we do together?'."
Guillaume Wolf, Graphic Design, Faculty
"It is very empowering for designers to see how their projects can actually make an impact in people’s lives."
Liliana Becerra, Product Design, Faculty
A short film detailing the innovative Designmatters-led anti-gun violence curricular program, Where’s Daryl, and its pilot rollout in the Los Angeles Unified School District in spring 2013. A short film detailing the innovative anti-gun violence curricular program and its rollout in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Written and Directed by Benjamin Weiss, Shot and Edited by H.R. McDonald
A witty PSA produced in partnership with the United States Geological Society to raise awareness about tsunami dangers and safety measures.
"This class taught students the importance of creating a different kind of 'right.'"
Sean Adams, Graphic Design, Faculty
A documentary short about the creation of “Mark & the Jellybean Monster,” part of the Uncool Children’s Book Library Series.
A documentary short about the creation of “Amos' New Life,” part of the Uncool Children’s Book Library Series.
A brochure developed in a design-led studio, Project Coastal Crisis, focusing on public education and action strategies to address rising sea levels.
"It is very empowering for designers to see how their projects can actually make an impact in people’s lives."
Liliana Becerra, Product Design, Faculty
“We do not design in a vacuum; we design for the world, in the world.”
David Mocarski, Chair, Environmental Design
Safe Agua Peru Documentary directed by Erik Anderson
"This class taught students the importance of creating a different kind of 'right.'"
Sean Adams, Graphic Design, Faculty
This multiple award-winning film (Cannes, Art Directors Club) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the aid organization Project Concern International.
A moving PSA highlighting the work of the Organization of American States as part of their 100th anniversary celebration.
Short film profiling the unique social impact design methodologies and project solutions behind the 2010 Safe Agua Chile studio.
"It’s not just about the product, it’s about the person, it’s about making real impact.”
Margaux Reynolds, Student, Product Design
"As designers we need to remain accountable, with measureable outcomes and ways of making small moves to create big impacts."
Stephanie Dhillon, Environmental Design, Student
An animated short calling for the empowerment of girls and women, in support of the United Nations Population Fund.
"In a time when we are bombarded with imagery, it was an amazing experience to really understand the power of design as a vital communication tool."
Christina Nizar, Graphic Design, Student
A touching short in support of young people the world over and the United Nations Population Fund.
A humorous but cutting look at the way Americans use water, highlighting the need to conserve.
A heart-wrenching look at the need to conserve, and how we might set our water-use priorities.
"Socially conscious designers can inject new ways of thinking into the world to help deal with pervasive social and environmental problems (such as inequity and the hyper-production of wasteful and harmful things)."
Mari Nakano, Grad Media Design '09, Visual Design Lead, UNICEF Innovation Unit
"As designers we need to remain accountable, with measureable outcomes and ways of making small moves to create big impacts."
Stephanie Dhillon, Environmental Design, Student
A multiple award-winning PSA (ADDY, Telly, Cannes) asking us all to take our share of responsibility for climate change.
A chronicle of the Mpala Integrated Health Mobile Clinic for Remote Communities in Kenya project.
“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
One of a series of PSAs for the UNFPA calling attention to the somber global statistics and consequences of maternal fatalities in childbirth.
One of a series of PSAs for the UNFPA calling attention to the somber global statistics and consequences of maternal fatalities in childbirth.
This PSA is one of a series taking a pointed approach to earthquake preparedness in Southern California.
"The students created outcomes that are innovative and exciting, and help move us closer to our ultimate goal."
John Bwarie, United States Geological Survey (USGS)
"It’s not about me saying, 'Here’s what to do.' It’s about all of us deciding, 'What can we do together?'."
Guillaume Wolf, Graphic Design, Faculty
A humorous, multiple award-winning PSA (ADDY, Cannes) on the subject of family obesity.
An animated short for the AIDS Institute promoting safe sex in the Caribbean through a combination of sensible lifestyle choices and condom use.
"Socially conscious designers can inject new ways of thinking into the world to help deal with pervasive social and environmental problems (such as inequity and the hyper-production of wasteful and harmful things)."
Mari Nakano, Grad Media Design '09, Visual Design Lead, UNICEF Innovation Unit
An animated short for the AIDS Institute promoting safe sex in the Caribbean through a combination of sensible lifestyle choices and condom use.
An animated short for the AIDS Institute promoting safe sex in the Caribbean through a combination of sensible lifestyle choices and condom use.
A PSA raising awareness of progress toward realization of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
“Innovation emerges out of a deep partnership between design students and community members.”
Penny Herscovitch and Dan Gottlieb, Associate Professors, Environmental Design
"The students confronted important issues from personal vantage points, ultimately ensuring that others would care about them, too."
Sherry Hoffman, Humanities & Sciences, Faculty
This book documents a project to explore digital story-sharing in the developing world, with field projects in the Philippines and the Caribbean.
This book documents concepts in enhanced mobility design as developed in the Johnson Controls-sponsored “Driven Environment in 2015” studio.
“We do not design in a vacuum; we design for the world, in the world.”
David Mocarski, Chair, Environmental Design
One of an eye-opening series of PSAs about alcohol marketing, on behalf of the Pan American Health Organization.
A PSA commissioned by the United Nations Development Fund for Women addressing domestic violence.
A PSA warning of the impact of domestic violence on children, distributed by the Pan American Health Organization.
"Socially conscious designers can inject new ways of thinking into the world to help deal with pervasive social and environmental problems (such as inequity and the hyper-production of wasteful and harmful things)."
Mari Nakano, Grad Media Design '09, Visual Design Lead, UNICEF Innovation Unit
A pointed PSA in support of gender equality, on behalf of the UNFPA.
The Nyumbani Village Concept Cards were developed to document research, findings and outcomes of the Nyumbani Village: Kenya project.
"The chance to work with real people with real needs is an invaluable learning experience for students."
Simon Johnston, Graphic Design, Faculty
A parable addressing the topic and tragic consequences of drunk driving among youth.