Design for America (DFA) is an award-winning nationwide network of interdisciplinary student teams and community members using design to create local and social impact. They teach human centered design to young adults and collaborating community partners through extra-curricular, university based, student led design studios tackling national challenges in Education, Health, Economy and Environment.

DFA student teams work on 2-3 self-selected design projects throughout the academic year applying the skills and expertise gained through their for-credit academic courses. They look to their local community to assess pressing challenges and work in teams with organizational partners to understand user’s needs, ideate, prototype and test potential solutions. Projects that receive validation from their partners, users and mentors are encouraged to continue into implementation. DFA students must be fearless in moving forward on a good idea and fearless enough to take a step back when they may need to go back to the drawing board. DFAers represent diverse academic fields such as engineering, design, psychology, and economics. DFA believes that all students have the capacity to use design to innovate the world around them and DFA is a platform to do so.

If this sounds like something you’re passionate about, apply to start a chapter at Tulane!