DesignPhiladelphia

Excited to share that I recently completed a program with DesignPhiladelphia in collaboration with the Philadelphia School District! Over the past few months, I worked alongside two Temple University classmates and a design professional to develop and teach a six-part lesson plan on architecture and climate adaptation. We were placed with a 7th-grade social studies class, where we explored how ancient South American civilizations adapted their built environments to different climates. Through collaging and 3D modeling exercises, students designed their own civilizations—complete with residential spaces, public areas, and pathways—all tailored to the unique geographic and cultural conditions we studied. This experience was a meaningful reminder of how powerful architecture can be as a tool for storytelling, collaboration, and early design education. #DesignPhiladelphia #ArchitectureEducation #CommunityEngagement #DesignForAll #K12Design #TempleUniversity #ClimateAdaptation #YouthDesign

We can never say enough how grateful we are for ALL of our volunteers! We know students "excel at thinking with their hands" and exploring their creativity through project based learning and they make it possible. Emma Fox-Lambert- congratulations on an amazing semester!! We hope to see you for many more to come.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 38th Louis I. Kahn Award honoring Kengo Kuma, founder of KENGO KUMA & ASSOCIATES. From the always stunning setting at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology to Kengo Kuma’s powerful reflections on his past projects, the evening was nothing short of inspiring. This event brought together students, professionals, and design enthusiasts and reminded us of the strength and creativity within our growing community. We’re grateful to all our incredible sponsors for making this experience possible and to Kengo Kuma for sharing his vision with us. The future of design feels brighter than ever. Thank you again Gattuso Development Partners, Milber Makris Plousadis Seiden, MIS Capital LLC , Steve Gendler , David Colman, General Building Contractors Association (GBCA), NEUBAUER FAMILY FOUNDATION, Thornton Tomasetti, Cozen O'Connor, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Keast & Hood, Field Operations, Pennoni, Aegis, LF Driscoll, Gilbane Building Company, University of Pennsylvania, National Real Estate Development, LLC, Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia, West8, BFW Construction Project Managers, WHYY, and ARC Document Solutions to help bring this event to life!

Just wrapped up a five-week teaching program with a 5th grade class, and I am floored by how creative and funny these kids are. We started with creating mosaics. Each student got a hexagon, some fabric, wood pieces, markers, and full creative control to make a self-portrait through texture and pattern. Some kids went a personal route, others made flags, friendship bracelets, album covers, Among Us characters: it was chaotic, heartfelt, and amazing. All of the mosiacs came together to create a beautiful combined portrait of the classroom. Then we leveled up. We introduced them to architectural floor plans and talked about scale, function, and how to design for real spaces. They cut, pasted, and drew out their dream classrooms: gaming lounges, zip lines, ball pits, Doordash shelves, and cages for their teacher. Then we brought their 2D plans to life in a full-on 3D model-building session. Play-Doh furniture was crafted, foam and toothpicks flew, and they weaved their personalities into every little detail. Teaching design to kids is part architecture, part performance, part improv comedy. Thanks a bunch to DesignPhiladelphia for helping make this happen. A special thank you to Mostafa Helali and Zariah Brown for being the best team and building Play-Doh furniture for hours outside of class to make these little dreams happen.

Join us in celebrating Architecture Week 2025! This week honors the field of architecture and invites everyone, especially K-12 students, to explore architecture and design. This year, DesignPhiladelphia’s Design Education Program partnered with AIA Philadelphia to bring architecture straight to the classrooms of The School District of Philadelphia. Through field trips, career pathway discussions, and hands-on activities, students engaged with real architects, explored what a career in design looks like, and discovered how their creativity can shape the world around them. Thank you to our Arch Week Volunteers: Uchenna Okere, Jennifer Grafton, AIA, ALEP, Tiffany Millner, Jeremy Avellino, AIA, CPHC, LEED-AP, Michael Spain, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, and Tyler Stull! They helped make all of this possible and shared their knowledge with the next generation of design!

The 2025 JADE Fellowship is officially LIVE! DesignPhiladelphia is inviting design students to apply for this community-centered leadership opportunity with an award of $10,000. What you’ll do: - Join a tight-knit cohort - Grow your career and leadership skills - Visit Philadelphia design and architecture firms - Receive mentorship and professional training - Complete a capstone project to bring your vision to life Eligibility: - Must identify as Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic, and/or Native American/Indigenous - Be a current design undergrad at Community College of Philadelphia, Drexel University, University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Penn State University or Thomas Jefferson University. - In your second or later year of an undergraduate/associates design program when application launches Click here to learn more! https://lnkd.in/egPMC5Pr

Tickets are still available for the 38th Louis I. Kahn Award honoring KENGO KUMA & ASSOCIATES on April 9 at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology! This is your chance to be part of an unforgettable evening celebrating one of the world’s most visionary architects. The night kicks off with a cocktail reception and leads into a keynote where Kengo Kuma will share stories behind his groundbreaking, global work. Purchase tickets here: https://lnkd.in/eA-BtY8m ! A huge thank you to our incredible sponsors for making this all possible! Gattuso Development Partners Milber Makris Plousadis Seiden MIS Capital LLC , Steve Gendler, David Colman General Building Contractors Association (GBCA) NEUBAUER FAMILY FOUNDATION Thornton Tomasetti Cozen O'Connor Langan Engineering & Environmental Services Keast & Hood Field Operations Pennoni Aegis LF Driscoll Gilbane Building Company University of Pennsylvania National Real Estate Development, LLC Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia West8 BFW Construction Project Managers WHYY ARC Document Solutions

What a night! The 2025 Bacon Awards Ceremony was a celebration of creativity, innovation, and the incredible work of students shaping the future of design. Congratulations to this year’s winners - our first and third place teams from Silesian University of Technology and our second place student from University of Waterloo. Your projects were inspiring, and the competition was incredibly close! A huge thank you to our esteemed jurors Elinor Bacon , Daniel Killinger, Eleanor Sharpe, AICP, LEED AP, Mitchell Silver, FAICP, Hon. ASLA, and Dr Simon Warren for lending their expertise to this year’s selection process. We are also honored to recognize Vishaan Chakrabarti, FAIA Chakrabarti as our 2025 Bacon Awards Honoree for his visionary contributions to urban design and the built environment. This event wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and support of our sponsors, committee, students, educators, and everyone who believes in fostering the next generation of designers and city-makers. Thank you for your passion and commitment. We can’t wait to see what students dream up for our 2026 Student Urban Design Competition "The Artist Formerly Known as Usciences". The brief can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eJZJ-9xn !

Zainabou Diaoune's journey through Philadelphia’s design pipeline is a testament to the power of mentorship and opportunity. From Philadelphia Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects’ Project Pipeline to Charter High School for Architecture and Design to DesignPhiladelphia, she discovered architecture, built connections, and shaped a future rooted in design. Now, as DesignPhiladelphia’s Program Assistant, she’s come full circle—helping create experiences that inspire the next generation. Her story is a reminder that exposure to design at a young age can open doors to careers many never imagined. Read more about how Zainabou is using her journey to give back and reimagine what design can be. https://lnkd.in/eSA-KZYM

We can't wait to see you all at Collage + Connect next week!