Design Advocates

Design Advocates (D/A) is a cooperative network of independent architecture and design practices committed to advancing social impact through design. Founded in April 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, D/A began as a nonprofit platform to support small firms through data sharing and resource collaboration. It quickly evolved into a collective working to provide pro bono design services for small businesses, community organizations, and nonprofit groups, while also building advocacy for the independent design sector.

Since 2020, Design Advocates has completed over 100 community-serving projects in partnership with local organizations, public agencies, and social justice groups. More than 250 firms and volunteers have contributed to its mission, addressing spatial inequities while rethinking models of architectural labor, public design practice, and civic engagement. D/A continues to expand its work through collaborative practice, equitable project delivery models, and community partnerships.

Organized by the Pratt School of Architecture and presented by The Architectural League of New York, this event brought together leaders of Design Advocates to discuss the origins of the organization, its collective structure, and its ongoing evolution. The conversation explored how D/A mobilizes design as a tool for public good and shared new strategies for addressing equity, access, and participation in the built environment.