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about us

The DesignAlabama Mission

Design IntegrityDesign Disciplines
Our primary mission is to advocate for the collaboration of the design arts and their importance in creating and enhancing place in Alabama.

Who is DesignAlabama?
DesignAlabama is a nonprofit, citizen-led organization that seeks to raise the bar for design in our great state through education of the applied arts, promoting designers who live and work in Alabama and supporting sound design thinking to sustain our communities. Our board of directors is made up of design professionals, community development officials and business professionals who champion design.

ArchitectureWhat does DesignAlabama do?
DesignAlabama was founded in 1987 under the wing of the Alabama State Council on the Arts. The organization has since developed initiatives to bring awareness to design professions that help shape how we live and the environment around us. The design arts supported include a range of interconnected fields including architecture, engineering, graphic design, industrial design, interior design, landscape architecture and urban design.

Some of our most impactful initiatives have been our Mayor’s Design Summits. In these daylong workshops civic leaders work with designers and planners to excavate ideas that will help make their communities desirable, profitable and more livable. We even tackle important design problem solving such as rebuilding after a natural disaster.

DesignAlabama also creates educational content to inform civic leaders and the general public of design processes and why design is a critical factor in using resources effectively. We share case studies from Alabama designers to highlight examples of successful creative work being done across our state.

See the DesignPlace process in action

The people behind DesignAlabama

Our Sponsors

  • mcnair
  • UA
  • Cohen Carnaggio Reynolds
  • Goodwyn | Mills | Cawood
  • |
    AL State Council on the arts
  • Alabama Art-4-Us
  • Alabama League of Municipalities
  • Byard
  • Williams – Blackstock
  • Dakinstreet Architects
  • Stewart Perry
  • Copperwing
  • David Baker Architects

to support

How to Sponsor

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Why you should support
DesignAlabama, and how to do it.

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We believe design can have a significant impact on our quality of life. Some of our most impactful initiatives have been our Mayor’s Design Summits. In these daylong workshops civic leaders work with Alabama designers and planners to excavate ideas that will help make their communities desirable, profitable and more livable.Your donation or sponsorship will help us continue to promote the applied art professions, support design education to improve Alabama communities.
Please consider helping to fund these efforts by clicking on the Contribute Now button below.
Download the brochure (pdf file)

Make an Annual Gift

Pine Sponsor: $500 As a Pine Sponsor your name and logo will be displayed on the DesignAlabama website and linked to your company from our monthly e-newsletter.

Marble Sponsor: $1,000
As a Marble Sponsor your name and logo will be displayed on the DesignAlabama website and linked to your company from our monthly e-newsletter.

Granite Sponsor: $2,500
As a Granite Sponsor your name and logo will be displayed on the DesignAlabama website and linked to your company from our monthly e-newsletter.

Iron Sponsor: $5,000
As an Iron Sponsor your name and logo will be displayed on the DesignAlabama website and linked to your company from our monthly e-newsletter and secures a keynote speaking opportunity at DesignAlabama’s Annual Mayors Design Summit. Further, you will have opportunities to connect with peers and community leaders from across Alabama.

resources

DesignAlabama Journal Archives

Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum

Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution is the only museum in the nation completely devoted to the preservation and awareness of historic and contemporary design. The Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum presents compelling perspectives on the impact of design on daily life through various educational programs, exhibitions, and publications.

The Alabama Urban Forestry Association

Established in 1989, the Alabama Urban Forestry Association (AUFA) is a leader issues affecting urban forestry. AUFA promotes proper tree care, tree protection and other tree issues in the urban setting. In addition to their advocacy role, AUFA creates partnership with other groups to promote tree health and management, produces seminars and conferences and publishes a number of educational materials.

Your Town Alabama

The annual Your Town Alabama workshop is coming up for the 2014 year. Scheduled for September 2014, the workshop consists of highly informative presentation and problem solving activities for leaders and participants. It is also one of the best opportunities to network with other community leaders and make contacts with professionals who work throughout Alabama in the planning, economic development, preservation, and design fields. Your Town will be held at Camp McDowell in Nauvoo, Alabama at a popular and beautiful retreat location. The workshop fee is $125 per participant that covers lodging, materials and meals, however there are scholarships available. For more information or an application, you can contact Your Town Alabama by visiting their website at www.yourtownalabama.org or calling 205-348-7058

Economic Development Institute

The Economic Development Institute provides leadership training in the field of community economic development. They offer intensive economic development courses twice a year, once in early summer and then again in early fall. For more information you can call 334-844-4704 or visit their website at www.auburn.edu/outreach/edi

Alabama State Council on the Arts

The Mission of the State Council on the Arts is to promote Alabama’s diverse artistic and cultural resources. For community design initiatives you can contact: Kay Jacoby at 334-242-4076, extension 224 or learn more about the art community in Alabama at: http://www.arts.state.al.us

Alabama Association of Regional Councils

The Alabama Association of Regional Councils is composed of the state’s 12 regional councils which were established through state legislation. The councils are public organizations encompassing multi-jurisdictional regional communities. They assist local governments in numerous areas such as community development, economic development, planning, transportation, aging issues, employment, law enforcement, and business development.

American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Alabama Chapter 1-800-239-5545 Since 1857, the AIA has served as the leading national association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners, while providing services to local communities. www.aia.org

American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)

Alabama Chapter 1-334-821-6070 Founded in 1899, ASLA is the national professional association for landscape architects, whose members are committed to the highest ethical standards. www.asla.org

American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)

Alabama Chapter 1-334-990-4422 Comprised of designers, industry representatives, educators and students, ASID strives to advance the interior design profession through education, knowledge sharing, advocacy, community building and outreach. www.asid.org

American Planning Association (APA) (AICP)

Alabama Chapter 1-800-825-5862, ext. 5987 Leading in the development of vital communities, APA is an independent, not-for-profit educational organization that measures its success by the successes of members and the communities they serve. www.planning.org

Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA)

National Contact 1-703-759-0100 The not-for-profit IDSA was founded in 1965 for industrial design professionals, and sponsors the world’s most prestigious industrial design honor, the annual International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA). www.idsa.org

AIGA, the professional association for design

National Contact 1-212-807-1990 AIGA, the professional association for design, advances design as a professional craft, strategic advantage and vital cultural force by bringing together practitioners, enthusiasts and patrons to amplify the voice of design and create the vision for a collective future. www.aiga.org

supporting partner

Alabama State Council on the Arts
The Mission of the State Council on the Arts is to promote Alabama’s diverse artistic and cultural resources. For community design initiatives you can contact: Mr. Randy Shoults at 334-242-4076, extension 224 or learn more about the art community in Alabama at: http://www.arts.state.al.us

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