Design A.I.D.

Design Assistance In Demand (A.I.D) tackles the urgent needs of nonprofit organizations that are on the front lines. Volunteer teams are configured to work quickly, with the goal of providing implementable designs in a week's time.

COMPLETED PROJECTS

Design AID: Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission 
Our team worked with this shelter to provide creative, inexpensive, and easily implemented design solutions to allow continued service of housing, food and shelter while maintaining safe social distancing.

Design AID: Berean Presbyterian Church
The church sought assistance in preparing for the reopening of their building. Our team was tasked with creating inexpensive, easily implementable design solutions related to circulation, use of space, seating/space layouts, visual cues and wayfinding, and beautifying spaces.

Design AID: Nationalities Service Center
A non-profit providing comprehensive services to newly arriving refugees, victims of human trafficking and unaccompanied children, requested design assistance as they prepare to bring staff, and eventually client families, safely back to their 4th floor offices. 

Design AID: Mr. Pizza/North 5th Street Revitalization Project 
A pizza shop requested help re-envisioning a contactless takeout window so that it could safely reopen. 

Design AID: Called to Serve CDC
Called to Serve CDC requested assistance determining the feasibility of moving its emergency food distribution center to a currently unused annex at Zion Baptist Church. The food distribution center serves as a hub to safely assemble food packages that are picked up and distributed by approximately 25 local community groups.  

Design AID: Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association
OCCCDA requested assistance developing outside dining options for two restaurants along Castor Avenue. The designs will be used as a prototype for other businesses in the area. 

Design AID: COVID Research for Small Businesses
A volunteer group of design students from three colleges are performing research and creating resources to serve as a toolkit for businesses that are reopening and rebuilding. 

Design AID: HIAS Pennsylvania
HIAS, a nonprofit providing legal and social services to immigrants and refugees, sought assistance understanding how their brand new office space (they were supposed to move in the spring) might need to be altered so that they can bring staff and clients into the space safely.

MEDIA COVERAGE

Can Good Design Protect Us from the Coronavirus? Philly designers pivoting to public health think so.
June 26, 2020 | Philadelphia Inquirer

Community Design In the Era of Social Distancing
May 15, 2020 | Parallax (Podcast)

How Designers Are Remaking Spaces for our New, Socially Distant Lives
May 9, 2020 | WHYY