We all know that there are serious water problems going on right now – from droughts to water pollution. Sometimes we can feel like these issues are so large that they’re out of our control, but it’s important to stay positive and remain hopeful. We need people to view themselves as active change-makers that can play a role in the [...]

In collaboration with Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation, we have created a plan to improve the commercial sustainability of Red Hook. Although it is home to many niche shops, art galleries, waterfront parks and food culture, most businesses suffer from a lack of regular foot traffic. Ride the Hook is an initiative designed to reframe Red Hook as an accessible [...]

After researching the Port Richmond neighborhood, the SVA students were able to pinpoint the best area to commit their creative energy – the business district. The team developed and executed a real-world project designed to “revive” the main business corridor. This project was titled ¡Revive! Port Richmond tienda por tienda (store by store) because of the reinvigorating nature of the [...]

Reelizations is the new youth media program launched by the East River Development Alliance (ERDA), a non-profit organization based in Western Queens working to improve the lives of New York City Public Housing (NYCHA) residents. Reelizations creatively engages young people living in Western Queens public housing projects, equipping them with real-world video production skills to develop their own personal narratives [...]

Our project for the Lower East Side Business Improvement District (LES BID) developed concepts for a series of events to be held across four Sundays in Orchard Street. The ‘DayLife’ events aimed to boost day-time foot traffic and change perceptions that LES is an area only for nightlife. Each of the four Sundays had a theme highlighting the unique characteristics [...]

SCRAP is a program that produces a series of improvement comic strips by kids that have been bullied, about stopping fights before they start! SCRAP is a 3 month after school program that will produce one comic strip every two weeks to be published in a real comic. Once a week a guest speaker will talk about their bully problems [...]

The sphere of social design is growing, yet often in reaction to a set of social problems as opposed to in the prevention of those problems to begin with. Meanwhile, advocacy that aims to affect systemic progress tends to be executed with little space for creativity and few resources for high-quality design tools. In attempt to explore the marriage of [...]

New Girl is a community for teenage girls that are experiencing being in a new city, neighborhood, school, etc. that will bring them together and help them get more confidence, adapt into the new situation and take their background as a strength. It is a global community that acts locally, the first community will be New Girl Mexico, but it [...]

local(focus) spotlights the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation in creating greater impact for local good. Based on storytelling, the initiative emotionally engages the community through the use of short films, supported by a web platform, regional outreach and an interactive event to coincide with the organization’s 25th anniversary. The effectiveness of the year-long campaign is established through thoughtful consideration to design, [...]

How do we build a support system for those without one? Kinetic is a platform that connects students that are first generation American Born and Confused (ABC) to other ABC’s, dealing with similar stresses from living in between two worlds_ the American and Foreign. These circumstances usually leave an ABC torn apart, often creating distance between them and their family. [...]