Design for America at the Claremont Colleges

The Vision

Design for America (DFA) is a national network of interdisciplinary teams using human-centered design to tackle social challenges. I'm developing a DFA chapter across the Claremont Colleges — creating a space where students from all five colleges can collaborate on design projects that serve the local community.

The Mission

The purpose of DFA at Claremont Colleges is to lead collaborative teams through Design for America's human-centered design process — from ideation and prototyping through implementation. We address multidisciplinary challenges and collaborate with campus organizations and local community leaders to build tools that make a difference in the Claremont community and surrounding areas.

"Design isn't just for designers — it's a way of thinking that every discipline can bring to the table when solving community challenges."

Current Progress

Currently in the partnership development phase — building relationships with campus organizations, community leaders, and the national DFA network to establish a strong foundation for the chapter.

What's Next

Recruiting founding team members, securing institutional support, and identifying the first community design challenges the chapter will take on. The goal is to create a sustainable, student-led design organization that outlasts any single cohort.