Context:

Proactive Practices was an independent research project, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, exploring business models and organizational structures of public interest design firms. Our research intended to help designers understand how they could build practices that focused on creating social and economic impact.

Process:

Through extensive research and outreach, our research team built a list of 36 design practices nationwide, representing a range of design disciplines, that each focused on producing social or environmental impact through their work. We then conducted multiple in-depth interviews, reviewed financials and business models, and carefully assessed their portfolio of work using both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Outcomes:

Our team published a series of 10 case studies that explore how public interest design firms operate, and the methods, approaches, and practical tools they use to create social or environmental impact. Our research was shared at numerous design conferences and led to independent consulting projects with design firms around the country who were interested in adopting socially conscious methods.

Note: August 2024 - The Proactive Practices website is currently being redesigned, however all 10 case studies are still available, please contact me for digital access.