Design Sprints

Ongoing

Design Sprints: Building Creative Capacity

Designers, want to get involved? We’re currently seeking design advisors from the fields of graphic design, architecture, fabrication, urban planning & public policy, engineering, and lighting design. To express your interest, fill out this brief form. Submissions will be reviewed a rolling basis.

In Spring 2025, our Design Sprints program will partner with New York City’s Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to explore the intersection between arts programming and economic development, with a focus on areas with high storefront vacancy.

Storefront vacancy is a nuanced issue impacting many commercial districts’ quality of life, public realm, and small business engagement. While addressing storefront vacancy requires a long-term strategy for investment and intervention, in the short term, immediate services are needed to address the impact the perception of vacancy has on commercial districts. Design Sprints: Building Creative Capacity will provide community-based organizations with capacity building and design support, including project design and strategic planning, to understand and address storefront vacancy in creative ways.

Applications for community partners are now closed. For questions, contact Joseph Messana-Croly at jmessanacroly@vanalen.org.

This initiative is supported by the NYC Department of Small Business Services.