Recharging NYC Through Design

desigNYC, the nonprofit organization that matches designers with nonprofit NYC community groups is currently exhibiting its 2011 collaborations – from September 14 – October 1. It is hosted by GD Cucine, a high-end Italian kitchen showroom and gallery, at 227 West 17th street. desigNYC is helping produce design projects that address a range of social and environmental issues impacting the city, including sustainable development and education, neighborhood revitalization, social justice, health and urban farming, environmental activism and more. desigNYC plans to issue a call to nonprofits and design partners for the next round of projects in early October under the theme of Recharging Communities.

The exhibit includes:

Educating Tomorrow: a network for teachers – Matched with communication designers, Language Dept., and developers, Rubenstein Technology Group, to create an identity and website that will function as a network and resource hub for the NYC teacher community on sustainability issues.

Greenhouse Project: a mobile urban farm – NY Sun Works & Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation were matched with Abruzzo-Bodziak Architects to provide schematic design for a hydroponic greenhouse on unused lots in East New York, Brooklyn that will provide access to food, innovative scientific and agricultural education, as well as job training in urban agriculture and greenhouse construction. Graphic designer Claire Taylor Hansen assists with project identity and fundraising materials.

Green Map System: a fluid navigation system – Matched with Otto NY to redesign the flagship website, Green Apple Map, for this internationally renowned grassroot organization that marshals user-generated mapping of local green resources.

Gowanus Canal CDC: an educational urban platform – Matched with communication designers Fogelson-Lubliner to produce an identity and communications framework, including video, for a new urban ecology initiative.

Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project: translating complex data – Matched with communications designer Rodrigo Corral to design a multi-language Financial Rights Guide for new immigrants in NYC.

Nostrand Park: a Main Street intervention – Matched with Vamos Architects to create a concept design for “Destination Nostrand,” a community-oriented, pop-up plaza that provides arts, dining and entertainment along a historic corridor in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

PortSide NewYork: a boatbox on the East River – Matched with architects 590BC and Studio L’Image, to create architectural enhancements and interpretive environments for a boathouse/community center in Red Hook’s waterfront park.

Ioby: a sustainable identity (shown here) – Matched with Publicis Design to create an integrated brand identity and style guide that will help ioby engage more donors and volunteers in local environmental projects.

“We want to encourage designers to think of the city as the next frontier for design,” says Laetitia Wolff, executive director. “desigNYC harnesses the power of the creative community to imagine and affect a better urban experience. We are here to heighten public perception, understanding and participation in the making of our city, all together.”

[The Nightly Daily Heller on Vignelli’s subway “diagram.”]