An introduction to DesignAlabama
Who cares about architecture? Or graphic design? And what exactly is industrial design? Design arts such as these actually affect people’s lives in large and small ways every day, but remain almost invisible to the public. DesignAlabama works to heighten awareness of the design arts across the state.
Founded in 1987 under the wing of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, DesignAlabama has spent over 20 years developing initiatives to spotlight how the design professions help shape our environment. The organization’s purpose is not to serve designers but good design. Organizations such as the American Institute of Architects and the American Planning Association provide support for these professions, but the public knows next to nothing about the importance of the design arts disciplines in driving our economy and shaping the places we live.
Under the umbrella The umbrella term “design arts” includes numerous fields—architecture, engineering, graphic design, fashion design, industrial design, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban design. Of course, some of these have direct applications that we hear about all the time: school boards utilize architects for the building of schools; park boards are likely to call on landscape architects; planning commissions use professional planners and urban designers, and graphic design drives publishing and advertising.
-Philip Morris, Director Emeritus
DesignAlabama is a nonprofit, citizen-led organization providing educational resources and assistance related to urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, industrial design, graphic design, and engineering.
Our purpose is to educate the public about the design professions and raise awareness of design in general.
Our philosophy is that the public demand for design excellence and aesthetic integrity within communities is essential for economic development and an enhanced quality of life. We further believe that the design disciplines affect our environment in a variety of ways and therefore must be practiced in the most responsible way
