Community-Engaged Design Services
We provide design facilitation and services for community-based organizations, helping them transform strategic goals into fundable space development projects. As new funding opportunities arise for community revitalization, many nonprofits lack in-house expertise to navigate the design process—our services fill that gap.
Our Goals
We aim to empower local organizations with a community-driven design model, connect multi-disciplinary design professionals, and provide affordable, accessible design services to nonprofits and neighborhood groups. Our goal is to create spaces that reflect community needs and strengthen resilience.
Our Approach
Our design process follows three phases: Understand, where we define challenges; Create, where we ideate and prototype solutions; and Deliver, where we test and refine to reach a final solution. This collaborative approach ensures that every project is shaped by the community it serves.
This collaborative approach ensures that projects reflect community needs and aspirations, guiding organizations through the design thinking process.
Our Impact
In 2024, we piloted this model with Boston-Thurmond United, bringing together local design professionals and residents to explore land use. Purpose Built Communities recognized the project as a model of community-informed design.
Looking Ahead
In 2025, we’ll expand our program, matching nonprofits with local design teams to support pre-design work. We aim to build a future where design empowers communities through process-driven, collective impact.
Ready to Transform Your Community?
If you're a nonprofit or community group, let's work together to create sustainable, community-driven solutions.
Case Studies: Imagination Design Marathon | Boston-Thurmond United Land Use
CASE STUDY 01: DESIGN SERVICES
Boston-Thurmond United
Land Use Study
Client: Boston-Thurmond United | 2023–2024
Project Overview
Community Design Studio of North Carolina (CDS) served as the umbrella organization for the Boston-Thurmond Land Use Study, coordinating a multidisciplinary team of licensed, HUB-certified professionals in planning, architecture, commercial real estate, and landscape architecture.
Through town halls and 1:1 walking tours, the planning team supplemented public land-use data with stories from residents, ensuring that community voices directly shaped recommendations for affordable housing and resident-led development.
Beyond a land-use plan, this project provided educational resources to build neighborhood understanding of zoning, planning, and land use, including a Land Use Glossary and case studies of resident-led initiatives in similar communities.
The project was recognized by Purpose Built Communities as a model for community-informed design.
Community Partners
Boston-Thurmond United
Purpose Built Communities
Project Leadership
Dr. Elise Barrella, P.E.. Team Lead (Founder & CEO, DfX Consulting LLC)
Lauren Q. DiBianca Frye, Architect. Strategic Coordinator (Founder & Principal, Latent Designs, PLLC)
Real Estate & Land Use Strategy
John-Lewis Godfrey, Real Estate Strategy & Data Collection (COO/Broker in Charge, Hubbard Commercial)
Kristen Haaf, Land Use Strategy & Mapping (Principal, Roots First Design)
Design & Storytelling
Leah Lavin – Landscape Designer (Roots First, Winston-Salem City Sustainability Committee Rep.)
Salvador Patiño – Residential Strategist (Founder & Owner, Chavo Design, LLC)
Additional Contributors
Meredith Britt – Software Developer & Planner
Karen Kesler – GIS Principal Planner, City of Winston-Salem
Evan Smith & Jim Brooks – Purpose Built Communities
Regina Hall & Gregory Hairston – Boston-Thurmond United
Resident Leaders from the Boston-Thurmond Neighborhood
CASE STUDY 02: DESIGN SERVICES
Imagination Design Marathon
Client: Imagination Installations | June 2012
Project Overview
The Imagination Design Marathon was a seven-hour event that brought together 45 designers, artists, and community members to collaboratively envision artistic installations that would collect Winston-Salem’s dreams. CDS facilitated the design process, engaging teams of attendees to develop seven unique solutions.
Beyond the creative outputs, the event successfully generated ideas and built a network of dedicated supporters for Imagination Installations, strengthening its mission and impact in the community.
Project Team
Forrest Causby, Design Process & Audience Engagement (M Creative)
Rebecca McCormick, Design Process & Event Logistics
Lauren Frye, Event Planning & Design Process (Walter Robbs/Latent Designs)
Cheryl Schirillo, Planning & Outreach (Imagination Installations)
Duncan Moody, Volunteer Photographer (Sabela Images)
Community Partners
SECCA – Event Host
Imagination Installations – Client & Collaborator
View More Photos: Facebook Album
