Design Ignites Change - Projects - Amphibia: Give Your Projects Legs

School of Visual Arts

Amphibia is a city-matchmaking program that pairs non-profit organizations working in the greater Cincinnati area with local college students and design professionals who share the same passion. What is unique about Amphibia is that the projects that develop not only benefit the non-profits but also the students and professionals, as each project is done within the community they work and attend school in. In this way, projects can be focused and developed to have tangible impacts that can not only be seen, but experienced.

David Mierke
dmierke7@gmail.com

Impact! Design for Social Change

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November 4, 2011

Cincinnati has been plagued by an urban exodus, which has resulted in hundreds of abandoned buildings, open lots as well as the degradation of both safety and beauty in the downtown area.

In downtown Cincinnati there are over 200 non-profit organizations, dozens of professional design firms, and a University with one of the top rated design colleges in the nation.

Amphibia is compared to other similar programs in that all participants are a part of the same community, they can all see and feel the benefits of the projects implemented.

The name Amphibia reflects the mission of the program, to help nurture and develop preexisting components and passions, and to place them in a local environment that is ideal for growth and success.

A potential Amphibia project could bring together community members, students, and local artists to repaint abandoned buildings downtown which has been proven to decrease criminal activities.

How do you bring each of these three separate entities together; non-profits, students and professionals in a structured environment? How can the program not only benefit the participants, but the surrounding community can benefit as well?

Over the course of 12 weeks, Amphibia follows a 6-step process where students work with non-profits to learn about the organization. Simultaneously, they work with their professional teammates to develop projects that address the needs of the non-profit and the surrounding Cincinnati community.

Amphibia: Give Your Projects Legs

School of Visual Arts

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