This year’s Small Center Public Interest Design fellowship is a summer research intensive that explores socio-economic issues in New Orleans. The fellowship is an opportunity for students to put their education into practice by advancing community-based projects engaging and networking with designers and architects and working with the Small Center team to continue to challenge and evolve our field. During the fellowship, Small Center engages with the fellows as thought partners on questions and challenges in the field of public interest design. The fellows operate in a mini think-tank capacity as Small Center researchers. Under faculty leadership, students work with community partners to advance neighborhood scale projects that respond to needs of New Orleans residents.

“In the midst of an economy and society reeling from a global pandemic with numerous challenges, this group of six exceptionally creative student leaders offer a moment for celebration. As Small Center staff enrich the fellows understanding of the human condition, these student leaders are asking critical questions, using their design education to produce innovative solutions for nonprofits, and are producing works that will provoke and inspire.”

– Assistant Director, Rashidah Williams

Divided in three teams of two fellows each, the six students will work to vision the design aspirations of four nonprofit organizations. Fellows will work with the Arts Council of New Orleans to create a mobile market modular display prototype for artists to show and sell their work, Jericho Road Episcopal Housing to vision a workforce development staging and training space, Parisite DIY + Transitional Spaces to design Parisite’s “Skateuary”, and Operation Restoration to vision what a mobile technical education lab for individuals affected by incarceration. The Small Center Public Interest Design Summer Fellowship program would not be possible without generous donations from EskewDumezRipple, Morris Adjmi Architects, Sizeler, Thompson, Brown Architects, and individuals.

Introducing | 2021 Public Interest Design Fellows

• Zachary Braaten – 5th Year, Bachelor of Architecture
• Samantha Lindley- 2nd Year, Master of Architecture
• Kelsie Donovan – 5th Year, Bachelor of Architecture
• Melanie Evans – 2nd Year, Master of Architecture
• Olivia Foster – Bachelor of Arts in Design and Environmental Studies
• Seth Laskin – 4th Year, Bachelor of Architecture